Cataract training project gives eye teams in Peru "greater confidence"

Thanks to the remarkable generosity of our long-standing corporate partner, Alcon, local teams from our partner hospital, Las Mercedes, teamed up with the exceptional Mexico-based Volunteer Faculty Dr. Erick Encampira.

The week-long hands-on training strengthened surgical skills and know-how in advanced cataract surgery called phacoemulsification. This type of cataract removal offers faster recovery times, fewer complications, and better visual outcomes than traditional methods.

Over the course of the training, Dr. Encampira mentored two local ophthalmologists and expanded their technical expertise in real time while screening and restoring the sight of 20 adult patients in the process. 12 participants from our partner hospital also attended lectures to gain further knowledge and experience.

Access to phacoemulsification, a minimally invasive procedure, is limited outside major urban centers in Peru as many ophthalmologists lack the knowledge and skills to perform this advanced method.

Dr. Jorge Mera, one of the local participants, said, "The impact of this project has generated in me a greater confidence and composure, which has been strengthened over the course of the week-long training. I am happy and grateful for having learned a new surgical technique, and that the teaching from Dr. Erik has been very interesting and important since it will allow me to conduct new treatment alternatives for my patients. I am very grateful to Orbis/Alcon for this opportunity, which will serve me as a professional and for my patients, who will also benefit from receiving high-quality cataract surgery."

Image gallery: Phacoemulsification training project highlights

Alcon has been a valued Orbis partner for more than four decades, playing a crucial role in our goal to improve access to quality eyecare around the world. Since 1979 — three years before our very first Flying Eye Hospital program — Alcon has provided generous support through donations of state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies for both the Flying Eye Hospital and our partner hospitals worldwide.

In addition to vital in-kind donations through Alcon Cares, the Alcon Foundation provides financial support to help strengthen eye care systems, expand access to quality eye care, and deliver hands-on training for eye health professionals around the globe. Alcon is a regular Title Sponsor of our Flying Eye Hospital projects, including the one taking place in Rwanda right now.

Cataracts is the number one leading cause of blindness in Peru. Data from the 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) shows that almost 17% of Peruvians aged 50 and older have been diagnosed with cataracts.

The condition, which causes clouding of the lens and blurry vision, accounts for 58% of blindness among adults in this age group. Despite the availability of effective surgical treatments, a significant portion of the population remains untreated.

Already throughout Latin America, the spread of ophthalmologists varies significantly both between and within countries. Peru stands out as one of the countries most challenged by this issue as a disproportionate number of eye specialists are concentrated in more developed, urban regions.

As of 2019, there are over 1,000 ophthalmologists in Peru, which amounts to only about 39.6 ophthalmologists per one million people.

In Peru, too many people living in remote areas struggle to get the eye care they need. That’s why Orbis is working to strengthen local eye health services—so more people can access life-changing surgery, no matter where they live.

By expanding access to advanced cataract surgery, known as phacoemulsification, we’re helping local healthcare teams meet the growing need for treatment as the population ages. This means fewer people losing their sight to preventable causes and more families and communities thriving with healthier vision.

A huge heartfelt thank you to our project sponsor, Alcon, as well as our dedicated volunteers, and amazing supporters for helping us equip global eye teams with best-in-class skills needed to restore vision—and hope for so many in hard-to-reach communities.