Advanced cataract training brings brighter vision to Peru

At a hospital in southern Peru, local doctors learned cutting-edge cataract techniques under the tuition of world leading expert and Orbis Volunteer Faculty, Dr. James Lehmann, while patients like Gravelina, Valentin, Mercedes, and Jesus regained their sight—and their independence.

Orbis Volunteer Faculty Dr. Lehmann outside our partner hospital in Arequipa, Peru.

A successful week-long advanced cataract training project recently completed in Peru, all thanks to Orbis supporters and partners.

Led by seasoned Volunteer Faculty member and former Flying Eye Hospital staff ophthalmologist, Dr. James Lehmann, at our partner Honorio Delgado Hospital, in Arequipa, 23 patients were screened with 15 receiving life-changing surgery.

Phacoemulsification is an advanced minimally invasive technique for treating cataracts offering faster recovery times and better outcomes for patients compared to traditional procedures.

A team of local ophthalmologists and eye care professionals joined expert Dr. Lehmann, including the wonderful Dr. Carlos Angulo and Dr. Olenka Mercado.

New to the surgery, they and their peers were guided step by step on how to use the hospital’s recently donated phaco machine and how to manage its settings. Their skills and confidence grew steadily throughout the week with knowledge supported by three dedicated phaco lectures.

Gallery: Dr. Lehmann leads phaco training at Honorio Delgado Hospital

Reflecting on the training, Dr. Lehmann told us: "We’re making progress. Learning phaco, you don’t learn it in a week. This is just the foundation. There are going to be other programs here to help the doctors. For the most part, they are getting comfortable with the instruments, the flow of the O.R and everything. We’re doing better and better.”

Dr. Olenka, who described Dr. Lehmann as a ‘master’, highlighted the program’s impact: "Before, we didn't have that equipment and we lacked confidence, we had to refer young children with cataracts to Lima because we didn't have the training or the equipment here. Now we have the equipment, and with the confidence gained and the 15 cases we've operated on with the doctor, these patients can now be treated here in Arequipa.”

Dr. Angulo added: “It's been a very good experience. Positive for the advancement of surgical techniques in cataract surgery and for gradually improving vision and addressing blindness.”

Meet Four Patients With Improved Sight

Beyond training surgeons, the project changed the lives of four families.

Valentin

The 78-year-old farmer, from Nazca, was brought to Arequipa by his daughter to support him while cataracts robbed him of his sight.

Valentin said: “I used to pick vegetables, just pick the corn, or use a team of oxen or a horse. That's how I worked, and now I can't anymore. I've lost my purpose, and now my eyesight is failing. I just stay home with a little business I run to make ends meet.” An avid reader, Valentin couldn’t make out letters with blurred vision and was losing hope.

After surgery on his right eye, he shared with us that his vision was already 50% better and that the procedure was easier than he expected.

Mercedes

Mercedes is a 73-year-old farmer from Cusco, who had been struggling to manage her farm work including planting wheat, potatoes and barley, and caring for her animals. Cataracts made these daily tasks increasingly difficult.

She found comfort by spending more time with her cows.

After surgery, she noticed an immediate improvement in her vision and was sent home with eye drops to support her recovery.

Jesus

Jesus, 78, has been a driver for 45 years. His vision was good and he could see long distances. However, after moving to Arequipa not too long ago, he began noticing blurred vision from cataracts, which started affecting his work.

We caught up with him the day after surgery on his left eye. He could already see better, was leaving hospital with eye drops to aid his recovery with a follow-up appointment scheduled.

Jesus hoped that, with his sight nearly restored, he could get back behind the wheel and return to work soon.

Gravelina

Gravelina is 76 and has been struggling with cataracts for many years. Her limited vision forced her to stay at home, unable to carry out her usual activities for a long time.

After catching up after her surgery, she said her sight was improving ‘little by little,’ and the discomfort she once felt had eased.

The newfound clarity was giving her confidence to slowly return to daily life.

A Sustainable Future of Quality Eye Care in Peru

A heartfelt thank you goes to all our generous supporters for making a huge difference, and for giving local eye doctors critical skills and knowledge which will benefit communities for years to come.

This advanced cataract training not only strengthened local surgical capacity but also laid the groundwork for sustainable, high-quality cataract care in southern Peru—bringing better vision closer to home for people who need it most.

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Three children with glasses, smiling at the camera

Improving eye care in Peru

Our Flying Eye Hospital first touched down in Lima in 1982, and it signaled the beginning of a long relationship of ophthalmic training and skills-sharing. Some 1.1 million Peruvians are living with blindness or visual impairment out of a population of only 33 million.

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

August 12, 2025

A new training project dedicated to leveling up skills and knowledge in modern cataract surgery techniques has wrapped up in Peru, leaving a lasting impact on local eye care.