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Simul Can Play

April 05, 2017

Four-year-old Simul has had a very difficult childhood. His mother and father left him when he was only a small baby, and he was raised by his grandmother. At an early age, he began to have difficulty seeing. His grandmother heard about an eye health outreach program happening in their town and took Simul to be examined.

Birketo can see his grandson again

December 10, 2018

As we’re celebrating two decades of sight-saving work in Ethiopia we’re sharing stories of the lives being transformed thanks to the Orbis family. One of the people we caught up with is Birketo. He was almost totally blind for three years but thanks to an Orbis-sponsored cataract program he can now see again.

Abiyot's story: Making an impact on an entire community

October 19, 2018

Thanks to our amazing partners and supporters we've been transforming lives in Ethiopia for 20 years. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate the important role played by members of the Orbis family. This is the story of Abiyot - an Integrated Eye Care Workers (IECW) - based in Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia.

Saving Meskenem’s sight with a simple screening

October 24, 2018

To celebrate two decades of sight-saving work in Ethiopia we’re sharing stories of the lives being transformed thanks to the Orbis family. This time round we're introduced to a sweet little girl called Meskenem, who has been living with blinding trachoma-like symptoms for a whole year.

Ethiopia: Flying Eye Hospital project wrap-up

October 29, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital and our family of staff, crew and Volunteer Faculty have completed a hugely successful and energizing three-week program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

New eLearning course launched in modern cataract surgery

October 30, 2018

We’re delighted to announce that a new e-learning course in Phacoemulsification - recognized as the gold-standard in cataract surgery – has been rolled out across our award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight.

World Diabetes Day: the hidden risk of blindness

November 13, 2018

14th November is World Diabetes Day and we’re shining a spotlight on the role that the Orbis family is playing in tackling one of the fastest growing causes of avoidable blindness – diabetic retinopathy.

Tsehay's story: 'Orbis helped me change my life'

November 15, 2018

As we celebrate 20 years of sight-saving work in Ethiopia, let us introduce you to Tsehay - an Orbis-trained Eye Care Worker. The 'mother of eyes' has changed the lives of an incredible 600 patients with blinding trachoma. She's extremely passionate about her work and dreams of becoming an ophthalmic nurse one day.

Technology and Innovation In Eye Care

With avoidable blindness set to triple by 2050, we need to reverse the trend before it’s too late. The old way simply isn’t working. We need to push boundaries and lead from the front of eye health innovation now, if we’re going to help ensure a brighter tomorrow.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a day for doing good – for supporting the organizations you care about and making more of their important work possible. And this year, if you choose to support Orbis, your gifts will go even further!

Blindness Gender Inequality - Women & Girls

Blindness is a gender issue that no one is talking about. There are 139 million women & girls living with blindness - that's 25 million more women than men. Below, we explore the reasons behind this injustice and profile some of the women who are doing something about it. After all, a brighter future for women is a brighter future for the planet.

Helping women fight trachoma in Ethiopia

We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary working in Ethiopia. For the past two decades, we've been part of the international consortium leading the elimination efforts of blinding trachoma, an infectious disease that affects women disproportionately.

Meet The Women Fighting Blindness in Bangladesh

The Singra Vision Center in Bangladesh is a unique place to go for eye care. It’s successfully run by three hardworking and dedicated eye health professionals who are all women in their 20s.

The women fighting blindness in Zambia

In 2015 we conducted a research initiative to investigate why fewer women than men were accessing cataract surgical treatment in the Northwest province.

Partnering with influential women in the community

In 2017 we began partnering with 'Queen Mothers' - respected women who have influential positions in their communities, to help improve public awareness on eye care in Ghana.

Season's greetings

Season's greetings from everyone at Orbis. We wish you an amazing holiday season and a great 2019!

Mandido can support her family again

October 14, 2018

Mandido has lived with trachoma for the past three years, which has had a profound effect on her ability to work and support her family. Her husband suffers from a chronic illness and is unable to work meaning the 50-year-old grandma’s sight is crucial for their future.

Orbis Appeal: changing the way the world sees

December 17, 2018

Make no mistake: our Orbis supporters have changed and saved lives. Supporters, like you, believe it is our shared duty to lend a hand wherever there is a need — and we are grateful for your partnership.

Explore the history of the Flying Eye Hospital

For more than 25 years, the Flying Eye Hospital has been at the cutting edge of aviation, technology and change – bringing vital eye care to thousands of people worldwide.

Meet the bear with the best job ever!

December 19, 2018

Our volunteers fly all over the world to fight avoidable blindness. But, while they’re giving the gift of sight, there’s a particularly fluffy member of our team making a different kind of impact…

Which Orbis Hero are you? Take the quiz today

December 19, 2018

Take this fun quiz to find out which member of the Flying Eye Hospital crew you'd be.

And don't forget to share your results!

What's in your eye?

December 20, 2018

The human eye is an amazing organ! Let’s take an in-sight-ful look at what’s actually happening inside your eye. Warning: this article couldn’t be cornea... see what we did there?

Combining tech & hands-on training to help more people see

March 25, 2019

Here at Orbis we recognize that the need for innovative technologies and global collaboration is more important than ever in the fight against avoidable blindness. That's why we've developed special 'blended learning' courses - alongside partners such as the Alcon Foundation - to boost the skills of eye care teams around the world.

Vote for Chief Pilot Gary Dyson

February 14, 2019

We’re delighted to announce our Chief Pilot Captain Gary Dyson has been nominated for an Endeavor Award. This prestigious award recognizes pilots who go above and beyond and give back to their communities through volunteering.

A life dedicated to fighting blindness in Mongolia

February 14, 2019

As one of the most qualified cataract ophthalmologists in Mongolia Dr. Enkhutshin's work ethic is pretty inspiring. With the country's cataract rates so high and a cataract surgical rate the lowest in Asia, she's committed to fighting blindness in her country by sharing her top class eye care skills with local eye care teams.

Orbis CEO unveils new program in Bangladesh

February 21, 2019

A staggering one-third of 10 million diabetics in Bangladesh risk going blind because so many sufferers go undiagnosed. A new project in the Gopalganj district - unveiled by our CEO Bob Ranck - is dedicated to combating an explosion of blindness caused by diabetes.

Chief Pilot Gary Dyson Wins Endeavor Award

March 04, 2019

We’re thrilled to announce our wonderful Flying Eye Hospital Chief Pilot, Gary Dyson, has won an Endeavor Award. The award recognizes pilots who go above and beyond to transform lives by volunteering their time and skills to good causes.

International Women's Day: Meet Orbis hero Valerie Suberg

March 07, 2019

In honor of International Women's Day we're delighted to introduce you to a vital member of the Orbis family - Valerie Suberg - our Senior Manager of Aircraft Maintenance. Without this incredible woman, our Flying Eye Hospital would never get off the ground - literally.

How we're run

At Orbis, everything we do is guided by our vision to transform lives through the prevention and treatment of blindness. We have high standards for how we achieve this. We know that without you millions of people would be needlessly blind throughout the world.

Jamaica 2006: Building Lasting Partnerships

March 22, 2019

The first Flying Eye Hospital program of 2019 will be taking place in Jamaica at the beginning of April – marking the 8th time our crew have visited this beautiful island.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Jamaica

March 27, 2019

The first Flying Eye Hospital project of 2019 is under way – marking the 8th time the plane has landed in Jamaica and our 25th project in the Caribbean!

Tackling Trachoma in Ethiopia: School Eye Care Clubs

October 17, 2018

This year marks 20 years of sight-saving work in Ethiopia. One of the many life-changing initiatives we have been spearheading in the country to improve eye care and vision loss, is treating and preventing the spread of trachoma in schools.

New book raises awareness of vision loss among children in Ethiopia

October 12, 2018

A free illustrated storybook, ‘The Singing Tree’, designed to encourage school children to seek help if their vision is poor, has been launched in Ethiopia.

Orbis CEO Unveils First Children’s Initiative in India’s Poorest Region

April 15, 2019

In Bihar, India, over 700,000 people are blind with less than half unable to access sight-saving surgery. The region also has the lowest literacy rates for girls and half of the population currently lives below the poverty line.

Orbis launches BOOST app in collaboration with partners

June 18, 2018

We are excited to announce the launch of a brand new app developed with some amazing partners designed to help measure, analyze and improve success rates in cataract surgery. The free app is a brilliant example of how the sector can come together and use the latest technology to help change the way the world sees.

New World Medical

How One Nurse and her Patient Were Reunited on board the Flying Eye Hospital

May 11, 2018

Jose was a healthy, happy five-year-old playing outside near his home in Lima, Peru when he fell victim to a chance accident. Read about Jose's story below and how he was reunited years later with the nurse who helped him recover from his surgery on the Flying Eye Hospital....

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Barbados

May 14, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Barbados for its two-week regional conference with the Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies. This is the first time the plane has ever touched down in Barbados.

Annual President’s Club Dinner

May 29, 2018

Our Annual President’s Club Dinner took place on Wednesday, April 25th 2018 in New York City, and brought together supporters and Orbis Country Directors, who gave updates directly from the field. We've selected some of the highlights for you to enjoy below.

Dr William Dean

Clinical Research Fellow, International Center for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Dr Elethia Dean

Nursing Certification, Consultant, ASC Compliant LLC.

Dr Michael Vrabec

Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr Kakarla V. Chalam

Professor & Director of Retina, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California.

Dr Nathan Schwartz

Red Lion Surgery Center, Philadelphia

Dr Alessia Adduci

Faculty Department of Anesthesia & Intensive Care, Catholic University of Rome

Dr Elizabeth Castro

Technical Support Specialist, Alcon Laboratories Inc. California.

Barbados: Flying Eye Hospital Program Wrap-Up

June 11, 2018

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital leaves Barbados after a successful two week training program helping improve eye care across the Caribbean.

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Providing eye care to Rohingya people in Bangladesh

June 19, 2018

Since February we've been screening and treating Rohingya people in South East Bangladesh. As the first eye care organisation to establish services within the camps, we've been working with local partners to deliver 2,763 treatments in just two months.

Orbis Mourns Death of Longtime Board Member, Bruce Whitman

October 11, 2018

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of longtime Board Member, Bruce Whitman. Bruce passed away early Wednesday, October 10, with his family by his side.

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An Orbis first: live video consultation with Doctor in Syria

July 16, 2018

One of our Volunteer Faculty members held a live video consultation with a doctor in Syria last week, showing that technology can help us have an impact in places we would not otherwise be able to reach.

Celebrating 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia

July 31, 2018

We’re proud to announce a huge milestone – we’re now celebrating 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia. Our Addis Ababa office was officially registered in 1998 and became our very first program office outside the US.

Glasses study shows huge productivity boost for workers

July 23, 2018

A landmark study, published today in The Lancet Global Health, showcases how a simple pair of glasses can boost workers’ productivity and reduce poverty.

Saliou wants you to join Team Orbis

This story has a happy ending for Saliou thanks to the amazing support of people like you. Our expert volunteers, local partners, dedicated staff and wonderful supporters all come together to make a great team - a team that fights blindness and saves sight in communities around the world.

Dr Rudy Wagner invites you to join Team Orbis

This is Dr Rudy Wagner, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and long time Orbis Volunteer Faculty member. Dr Wagner has been part of Team Orbis since the early 1980s and he wants you to join too.

Fighting blindness with clean water in Ethiopia

August 20, 2018

It's World Water Week and we're celebrating the role that clean water plays in the fight against blindness. Trachoma is a painful, contagious bacterial infection which can cause blindness. It was eradicated in most industrialized nations by the 1950s but is still common in areas of the world where poor sanitation and lack of clean water are common.

Orbis and Visulytix Collaborate on New AI Technology

September 10, 2018

A new collaboration brings together our telemedicine platform, Cybersight, and artificial intelligence technology to fight avoidable blindness and change the way the world sees.

Mongolia: Flying Eye Hospital wrap-up

September 18, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital left Mongolia earlier this month following the completion of another memorable and successful project.

Orbis joint winner of photo competition

September 20, 2018

A photo beautifully capturing Orbis’s sight-saving work is the joint winner of a photo competition aiming to raise awareness of the work being done to beat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) around the world.

Interactive timeline: 20 years in Ethiopia

In 2018, we celebrated 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia. Take a moment to scroll through the highlights from this amazing milestone. A big thank you to all our wonderful staff, partners and volunteers, without whom, none of this would be possible.

Flying Eye Hospital lands in Ethiopia for World Sight Day

October 05, 2018

The Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Ethiopia ️to help celebrate World Sight Day and our 20th anniversary of sight saving work there.

World Sight Day - #WhyICare

October 08, 2018

11th October is World Sight Day 2018 and we're taking the opportunity to ask our supporters and partners to tell us why they care about eye care - #WhyICare.

Show you care this World Sight Day

October 10, 2018

Thursday 11th October is World Sight Day - a day to raise awareness of the millions of people who still don’t have access to decent eye care around the world.

Full Screen Flying Eye Hospital Tour

Flying Eye Hospital Celebrates First All-Female Flight Crew

April 25, 2019

We have some exciting news! Our Flying Eye Hospital welcomed its first ever all-female flight crew last week on a flight between Kingston, Jamaica and Memphis, Tennessee.

Carl Zeiss

Watch our new documentary film - A Solution In Sight

Watch our new documentary film following some of our amazing team on our recent project in Myanmar. The film follows VP of Clinical Services Hunter Cherwek, Flying Eye Hospital staff members Andrew Choyce and Angela Purcell as well as guest appearances from Noelle Whitestone, Volunteer Faculty Dr. James Lehmann and the Mayor of Mandalay

Retinopathy of Prematurity: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Retinopathy of Prematurity is a potentially blinding eye disease that affects premature infants and is the leading cause of blindness among children worldwide. It's particularly prevalent in Latin America & South East Asia where more premature babies are being saved, but few hospitals have the skills & resources to deliver the care needed.

Chief Financial And Administrative Officer - Danusia Dzierzbinski

Danusia joined the organization as CFO in September 2019 and oversees the management of Orbis Finance.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Myanmar

September 27, 2019

The dust has barely had time to settle on the runway in Vietnam before the Flying Eye Hospital touched down for its next training project. Our staff and crew have hit the ground running in Mandalay, Myanmar, where we’ve just begun a two-week training project.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy affects an estimated one-third of people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in adults between 35-50. But what is diabetic retinopathy, what causes it and what can be done to treat or prevent it?

World Sight Day: All Eyes On 2020

October 08, 2019

Thursday October 10th is World Sight Day, one of the most important days in the eye health calendar - a day to come together and celebrate the achievements of the eye health community and raise awareness of the important issues on the horizon.

Senior Development Officer, Foundation

December 26, 2019

The Senior Development Officer, Foundation & Government Relations takes the lead in researching and identifying new institutional grant prospects, initiating prospect contact and developing compelling proposal submissions matching Orbis needs with donor priorities.

The Race To Save Pinki's Sight

October 31, 2019

Born with cataracts in both eyes, little Pinki was in a race against time – she needed a sight-saving operation urgently or she would lose her vision forever.

One Mother's Mission To Save Her Daughter's Sight

October 31, 2019

Mother’s instinct told Verah that something was wrong with her daughter’s vision, which started her mission to find her baby Racheal the sight-saving care she needed.

Every Blink Was Painful For Asegedech

October 31, 2019

Asegedech was one of the 1.2 million people in Ethiopia suffering from trachoma – a cruel and agonizing infection that slowly tortures and blinds.

Powering The Fight Against The Crisis In Sight

October 31, 2019

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is unlike any plane you’ve seen before. A state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom and recovery room – this amazing aircraft has been an example of the marriage between medicine and aviation since 1982.

Individual Giving Associate

November 22, 2019

As a key member of the U.S. Development Team, the Individual Giving Associate is responsible for engaging and inspiring a portfolio of 350 donors who contribute between $1,000-$3,000 to Orbis annually.

Travel Coordinator

December 04, 2019

As a member of the Operations Department, the Travel Coordinator is responsible for administering all aspects of Orbis’s travel and logistics in conjunction with the World Travel Services (WTS) team, Travel Management Company, partners, affiliates, and Orbis departments worldwide.

Watch & Share: Solution In Sight

November 18, 2019

Watch our new documentary film following some of our staff and crew on our recent project in Myanmar. This short film gives a behind-the-scenes account of what it's like to work on the front lines of the fight against avoidable blindness.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Ghana

November 21, 2019

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in Accra, Ghana, for a three-week teaching and training project. It’s the third time the plane has been in Ghana where our teams will be working alongside our usual partners - the Ministry of Health, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Vietnam Flying Eye Hospital Project Wrap-Up

September 19, 2019

Our 2019 Flying Eye Hospital Project in Hue, Vietnam, has now drawn to close. The three-week project was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to the commitment and enthusiasm of our local partners from the Hue Eye Hospital.

New Funding for Orbis International Will Increase Global Access to Eye Care through Technology

December 03, 2019

Philanthropists Susan and John A. Sobrato donate $1 million to launch Silicon Valley Orbis Innovation Fund

Orbis launch fund to invest in tech & innovation

December 03, 2019

With global blindness and visual impairment expected to triple by 2050, we’ve launched a new fund designed to help us invest in technology & innovation to reach more people - more efficiently - than ever before.

Orbis Appeal: Help Restore Sight & Hope For Girls Like Megha

December 10, 2019

If you met Megha, you would immediately see that this bright fourth grader from Nepal wears her glasses with pride. The simple lenses do more than just correct her vision. Without them she would have been destined to a life of poverty, dependence and despair. But it's thanks to kind people like you that Megha now can see a bright future.

Ghana: Flying Eye Hospital Project Highlights

December 17, 2019

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital team and our fantastic Volunteer Faculty have wrapped up their 18-day trip to Accra, Ghana.

Scroll down for all the latest from our final project of 2019, including photo slideshows and stories from patients and volunteers.

Peru: Saving The Sight Of Triplets At Risk Of Blindness

December 19, 2019

When Elisa first learned that her newborn triplets were at risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity, she didn’t know what it meant. Her three older children hadn’t been screened for the condition and this was the first time she’d heard of it.

Adminstrative Coordinator, Global Programs

January 08, 2020

Based in Orbis International’s New York Headquarters, the Administrative Coordinator provides day to day administrative support to the Chief of Programs. They assist the Chief of Programs in daily scheduling, correspondence, and administrative tasks.

India: Vaishnavi can smile again now she can see

January 16, 2020

When Vaishnavi started to lose her sight to a cataract, her father feared she would struggle with her education. However, all thanks to a new pediatric eye care project set up at our partner hospital in India's poorest state, our Volunteer Faculty were able to remove her cataract while giving local doctors the opportunity to learn new skills.

Chief Human Resources Officer

January 21, 2020

In this new position with Orbis, as the Chief Human Resources Officer, you will strengthen Orbis’s Global HR, people, and culture function to support the organization’s growth.

Dai's world was a blur — until now

January 28, 2020

Imagine that you are nine years old. All you want is to spend your days playing with friends outside, riding your bike and exploring your neighborhood. But the world is a strange, dangerous place … because you were born with cataracts. When you can’t see clearly, even walking out your front door is scary.

Global Ophthalmology: A Call to Action

January 28, 2020

Dr. Milad Modabber joined our Flying Eye Hospital program as an associate ophthalmologist in Mongolia in the fall of 2018. In an article first published in 'Millennial EYE', he shares his thoughts on why he was inspired to volunteer & describes his experience working alongside our Volunteer Faculty to train & teach local eye doctors.

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Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships

February 12, 2020

As a member of the Development Team, the Sr. Manager, Corporate Partnerships is responsible for ongoing identification, analysis, cultivation, stewardship, renewal and expansion of Orbis’s key corporate partners to raise revenue and awareness in support of Orbis International programs and services.

Love Is In The Air On Our Flying Eye Hospital

February 13, 2020

As today is Valentine's Day and we’re a romantic bunch here at Orbis, we wanted to share a heartwarming story about two pilots, Captains Cheryl and Pete Pitzer, who are not only in love with the Flying Eye Hospital – but also each other.

Legal​ Volunteer​ ​

February 18, 2020

The legal volunteer will work directly with the Orbis General Counsel (an experienced attorney who has practiced law for over ten years) and will be assigned tasks and projects based on their unique knowledge, skill sets, talents and interests. The volunteer should be able to commit to at least 1 day per week for a minimum of 6 months.

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Vietnam: Dung Can See His Family Again

September 19, 2019

Family man and farmer, Dung, started losing his sight to cataracts two years ago.

At first he was reluctant to get treatment as he wrongly thought he would become permanently blind and risk losing income. With both eyes severely impaired, he lost confidence and hope in doing things he enjoyed.

Life On Board The Flying Eye Hospital: 10 questions with Celia Yeung

May 14, 2019

Communications manager, Celia, has just completed her last Flying Eye Hospital project in Kingston, Jamaica. We took a moment to sit down with one of the most inspiring members of the Orbis family and reflect on her incredible work over the past seven and a half years.