Orbis Flying Eye Hospital lands in Peru

From June 14–25, 2026, our flying ophthalmic teaching hospital will support a two-week training program in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Hospital Regional III Honorio Delgado, and our global sponsors Alcon, OMEGA, and FedEx.

With the aircraft now on the ground, the project highlights the need for stronger, more accessible eye care in southern Peru, where access to specialized services remains limited.

It also supports our ongoing work to strengthen eye care systems and bring quality treatment closer to where people live.  

In Arequipa and across southern Peru, many patients still travel long distances, often to Lima, to receive treatment that should be available closer to home. By working with the Ministry of Health, regional authorities, Hospital Regional Honorio Delgado, and local eye care teams, Orbis is helping strengthen the skills, systems, and partnerships needed to expand quality eye care in the south of the country. 

Simulation training is taking place on the aircraft and at Hospital Regional Honorio Delgado, while hands-on surgical training is also taking place on the plane and at the partner hospital. The training includes cataract, glaucoma, oculoplastics, and medical retina, as well as anesthesiology, nursing, and biomedical engineering. 

Orbis will train more than 125 eye care professionals, screen up to 100 patients, and perform around 45 surgeries and laser treatments during the project. But the real impact goes far beyond these numbers—because the skills local teams gain will enable them to treat thousands more patients in the years ahead, long after the Flying Eye Hospital has left
 

Images: Photos from the flight and landing on this current 2026 project

This Flying Eye Hospital project builds on long-term progress in Peru and on a broader strategy to strengthen eye systems nationwide. It includes long-term partnerships with hospitals and health authorities, support for hospital-based training, and efforts to strengthen eye health nationally and regionally. Orbis’s work in Peru focuses on expanding access in rural and underserved areas, improving screening, referral, and treatment for diabetic retinopathy, and raising awareness of retinopathy of prematurity while building referral networks. 

This project also builds on a five-year partnership with Peru’s Ministry of Health, established in 2022 to strengthen eye care systems across five regions. While northern Peru has seen significant progress, access to specialized care in the south remains more limited.

Images: Photos from our prior work in Peru

This training project is led by a strong group of Volunteer Faculty, most of whom are from Latin America and are native Spanish speakers. Their experience and regional knowledge help ensure the training is relevant, practical, and built to last. We extend our sincere thanks to:
 

• Dr. Ada Apaza Avila 
• Dr. Patricia Chirinos Saldaña
• Dr. Miryam Cespedes
• Dr. Niroop Ravula
• Dr. Erik Encampira
• Dr. Armando Castillejos
• Dr. Gerardo Grau Moreno
• Dr. Blanca Figueroa Magana
• Wendy Silva
• Maria Cueba Espino 
• Sofia Salazar Tamay
• Carla Socorro Muñoz Seclen 
• Dr. German Guerrero
• Dr. Mark Gunn

This project is made possible by the commitment of partners, volunteers, and supporters. We are grateful to the Ministry of Health of Peru and Hospital Regional III Honorio Delgado for their leadership, and to the local teams working to expand access to eye care in southern Peru. 

We also thank Alcon, FedEx, and OMEGA for helping bring the Flying Eye Hospital to communities where training is needed most. And to our supporters, thank you.