Website: www.orbis.org
Orbis International is a nonprofit medical education organization dedicated to global eye health. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in New York, USA, Orbis International's mission is to address preventable blindness by providing advanced medical equipment and technology, training ophthalmologists, and improving eye health globally, particularly in developing countries and regions. Orbis International is renowned for its unique "flying eye hospital," a mobile eye hospital that also serves as a global medical education platform.
Orbis International's mission and vision
Orbis International's mission is to reduce preventable blindness by helping people around the world access high-quality eye care through training, education, and resource provision. Its vision is to create a world without preventable blindness, where everyone can enjoy healthy vision.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 250 million people worldwide suffer from visual impairments, 80% of which can be prevented or treated. However, many developing countries and regions lack sufficient ophthalmological medical resources and technology, resulting in a large number of patients not receiving timely treatment. Orbis International was established to fill this gap.
Airborne Eye Hospital: A Mobile Eye Medical Center
Orbis International's signature project is the Flying Eye Hospital, a specially modified aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art operating rooms, treatment rooms, and training facilities. This aircraft is not only a mobile eye hospital but also a global medical education platform.
The main functions of the airborne ophthalmology hospital include:
- Provide free or low-cost eye surgeries and treatments to local patients.
- Provide professional training and technical support to local ophthalmologists and medical staff.
- Collaborate with local hospitals and medical institutions to improve their ophthalmology services.
Since the first flying eye hospital went into operation in 1982, Orbis International has carried out projects in more than 90 countries and regions around the world, providing treatment for millions of patients and training tens of thousands of ophthalmologists.
Orbis International's global projects
Orbis International operates several long-term projects globally, primarily focused on developing countries and regions. These projects aim to improve local ophthalmological healthcare services and reduce preventable blindness through training, education, and resource provision.
1. Training for ophthalmology medical staff
Orbis International provides professional training to ophthalmologists worldwide through its flying eye hospitals, online training platform (Cybersight), and on-the-ground training programs. Training content includes ophthalmic surgical techniques, disease diagnosis, and patient care. Through this training, local healthcare professionals acquire advanced skills and knowledge, enabling them to provide higher quality medical services to patients.
2. Community Eye Health Project
Orbis International has implemented community eye health programs in multiple countries and regions, aiming to raise public awareness of eye health and promote knowledge about the prevention and treatment of eye diseases. These programs include free eye exams, health education lectures, and vision screenings to help community members detect and treat eye diseases in a timely manner.
3. Children's Eye Health Program
Children are a key focus for Orbis International. Because children's eyes are not fully developed, many eye diseases, if left untreated, can lead to permanent vision loss. Orbis International operates children's eye health programs in multiple countries and regions, providing children with free eye examinations, treatments, and surgeries to help them restore healthy vision.
4. Eye Disease Prevention and Control Program
Orbis International also conducts several eye disease prevention and treatment programs, focusing on common eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Through partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare institutions, Orbis International provides advanced medical equipment and technology to help patients receive timely treatment.
Cybersight: Online ophthalmology medical education platform
In addition to its field projects, Orbis International has developed Cybersight, a leading global online ophthalmology education platform. Cybersight offers a wealth of educational resources, including online courses, surgical videos, and case discussions, helping ophthalmologists around the world enhance their professional skills.
Cybersight's main features include:
- Online courses: Covering professional courses in all areas of ophthalmology, students can choose learning content according to their own needs.
- Surgical Videos: Provides high-definition ophthalmic surgical videos to help trainees master advanced surgical techniques.
- Case Discussions: Participants can share cases on the platform and discuss and exchange ideas with other ophthalmologists.
- Remote Consultation: Through Cybersight, participants can seek remote consultation and advice from Orbis International's team of experts.
The launch of Cybersight has enabled Orbis International's training programs to reach more regions, especially those with poor transportation and limited medical resources.
Orbis International's partners
Orbis International's global projects are supported by numerous partners, including international organizations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, corporate and individual donors. These partners provide Orbis International with funding, equipment and technical support to help it better carry out its projects.
Orbis International's key partners include:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
- Many internationally renowned companies and foundations
Achievements and Influence of Orbis International
Since its inception, Orbis International has achieved remarkable success worldwide, treating millions of patients and training tens of thousands of ophthalmologists. Its impact extends beyond patient vision recovery, significantly improving the level of local ophthalmological healthcare services.
Orbis International's achievements include:
- Projects have been carried out in more than 90 countries and regions around the world.
- Provided free or low-cost eye surgeries and treatments to millions of patients.
- Professional training has been provided to more than 400,000 ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals.
- The Cybersight platform provides a wealth of educational resources for ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals worldwide.
- We have established long-term partnerships with numerous international organizations, government agencies, and businesses.
Orbis International's Future Plans
Looking ahead, Orbis International will continue its commitment to global eye health, further expanding the reach and improving the quality and effectiveness of its programs. Its future plans include:
- Expanding the project to include airborne eye hospitals, covering more countries and regions.
- Enhance the functionality of the Cybersight platform and provide more high-quality educational resources.
- Deepen cooperation with partners to jointly promote the development of global eye health.
- To develop more community-based and children's eye health programs and help more people achieve healthy vision.
How to support Orbis International
Orbis International's global projects rely on public support. Individuals and businesses can support Orbis International in many ways, including donations, volunteering, and promotional activities.
Support for Orbis International includes:
- Donations: Individuals and businesses can donate to support Orbis International's global projects through the company's official website.
- Volunteer Service: Orbis International welcomes volunteers to participate in its projects, providing support in areas such as healthcare, education, and outreach.
- Promotion and outreach: Individuals and businesses can promote Orbis International's mission and projects through social media, websites, and other channels to help more people understand and support its work.
Conclusion
Since its inception, Orbis International has been dedicated to global eye health, helping people around the world, especially in developing countries and regions, achieve healthy vision by providing advanced medical equipment and technology and training ophthalmologists. Its unique "flying eye hospital" and Cybersight, a world-leading online ophthalmology education platform, have made significant contributions to the development of global eye health.
Looking ahead, Orbis International will continue to expand the reach, improve the quality and effectiveness of its programs, and strive to create a world without unavoidable blindness. Each of us can support Orbis International's work through donations, volunteering, and advocacy, contributing to global eye health.
