Flying Eye Hospital project in Mongolia successfully concludes

This visit marked our ninth Flying Eye Hospital project in Mongolia, where access to high-quality eye care is limited. With one of the lowest cataract surgery rates in Asia, our goal is to build capacity for treating major eye diseases at our partner hospitals in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Gallery: the Flying Eye Hospital lands in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the start of the project.

After the plane landed safely, the project kicked off with simulation training where more than 70 residents and ophthalmologists honed their surgical skills on artificial eyes and virtual reality equipment. Using cutting-edge technology, teams practiced skills in the subspecialities of cataract, glaucoma, retina laser, phaco, and strabismus, giving them the tools to best treat their communities long after the plane leaves.

Lead Ophthalmologist on the Flying Eye Hospital, Dr. Omar Salamanca, helped guide simulation training, saying, “The most rewarding feeling is when I see the confidence emerge among residents over the course of a training week—hand movements and dealing with the surgical instruments. After a few days, you also notice subtle expressions of satisfaction, even smiles on their faces.”

Gallery: simulation training on board the Flying Eye Hospital in week one.

Week two shifted focus to pediatric eye care and the leading causes of childhood blindness. This was also the first week of the project where patients were seen and treated, including some of the adorable faces you see below. Little girls like Nandin Egshiglen and Buyandeleger were able to get sight-saving surgery thanks to the generosity of Orbis supporters, and their futures are now looking brighter than ever. The specialized training received by local doctors will also ensure other young girls and boys receive the same high-quality care for generations to come.

Director of the Flying Eye Hospital, Maurice Geary, finds pediatric care extra rewarding. He says, “To see young kids coming on the plane with their parents, and in the course of one afternoon their sight is saved and their lives are changed. You can see it in the eyes of each of these parents; they know how much of an impact this is going to have on the life of their child. And for all of us, it’s just a special moment to witness.”

Gallery: Nandin Egshiglen and Buyandeleger had their vision restored on board the plane.

The final week was an opportunity for the entire eye care team to receive specialized training — from doctors and nurses to biomedical engineers. Two expert biomedical engineers and Volunteer Faculty from Alcon led specialized workshops to train local technicians in operating equipment, donated by Alcon Cares. With their new skills, these engineers can maintain this top-quality equipment for years to come.

But the project didn’t stop there! After our President and CEO Derek Hodkey welcomed special guests to the plane, we kicked-off another week of surgery. Doctors received hands-on surgical training from Volunteer Faculty for treating adults with blinding diseases, like glaucoma.

Volunteer Faculty and Chair of the Orbis Medical Advisory Committee Dr. Malik Kahook helped guide doctors through complex surgical steps. After a week of practicing with simulation in the wet lab, Dr. Kahook is especially impressed with the progress of one of the local doctors. “I can say that she is able to perform a glaucoma drainage device on her own at this stage which to me is one of the biggest successes of this trip,” he shares.

Gallery: adults receive eye care on board the Flying Eye Hospital during week three.

We want to give an enormous thank you to everyone who made this project possible. From our Title Sponsors Alcon Foundation, FedEx, and OMEGA, to the Mongolian Ministry of Health, right through to you, our wonderful supporters, without whom none of this would be possible.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for November, as the plane is taking off for another sight-saving project in Bangladesh!

See you then!