News and Stories

Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Comes to Life in Microsoft Flight Simulator

We are delighted to announce today that the Microsoft Flight Simulator is partnering with Orbis International, a non-profit organization transforming lives through the treatment and prevention of avoidable blindness, to give flight simmers the chance to virtually explore the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.
Read more
Our Flying Eye Hospital is currently grounded due to Covid-19

Cataract surgery has transformed Birketo's life

July 22, 2021

We met Birketo in 2018 when he was around 80 years old, he had cataracts in both his eyes. For the past three years, he’s been almost totally blind. He was a farmer before he started losing his sight – but now he’s unable to work, his sons have had to take on his responsibilities.

Orbis CEO and President Derek Hodkey

Interview with Derek Hodkey, Orbis International CEO

July 08, 2021

Our partners Qatar Fund for Development, have launched their latest newsletter, which features an interview with our very own Orbis International President and CEO, Derek Hodkey! You can read the interview and check out the full newsletter, in both English and Arabic, below!

Qatar Creating Vision Features in the Sustainable Development Goals Good Practice Guide

June 23, 2021

The United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs has released their second group of programmes and initiatives which highlight examples of good practice, including those that could be replicated or scaled-up by others across the globe.

Patient stories: Treating Khatija for Cataracts

June 16, 2021

Khatija lives in the camps in South East Bangladesh, where 1.2 million of the Rohingya community are sheltering. She had been unable to see for four years but had no access to eye care services due to poverty.

Orbis partner QFFD publishes 2020 Annual Report

June 15, 2021

The Qatar Fund for Development have released their latest Annual Report, which highlights the projects they supported throughout 2020.

Fighting blindness caused by diabetes in Bangladesh

GLOBAL BLINDNESS WAS SLOWING PRIOR TO PANDEMIC STUDY REVEALS

June 09, 2021

New data shows 33 million people are living with avoidable blindness and 260 million with avoidable moderate-to-severe visual impairment – simply because they can't access the right kind of care.

Dr Danielle Beleho is an ophthalmologist in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Virtual Flying Eye Hospital program takes off in Cameroon

June 07, 2021

Dr. Danielle Beleho – an ophthalmologist in Yaoundé, Cameroon – shares how Orbis’s commitment to innovation and working in partnership is helping to fight blindness in Cameroon, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Alward screening a patient during a Flying Eye Hospital project in Can Tho, Vietnam, 2017

Orbis volunteer trains Zambian doctors remotely on the first virtual Flying Eye Hospital programme

June 07, 2021

The in-person part of our mission to empower local communities to fight blindness may be temporarily on-hold, but our online training has been taking off. Volunteer Faculty member Dr. Lee Alward took to Cybersight to train doctors virtually in our first ever Virtual Flying Eye Hospital program.