ORBIS exists because 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or cured, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since 1982, ORBIS, its Flying Eye Hospital, and partners have provided medical and eye treatments to 15 million people worldwide, 4.7 million of which were children. We work where the need is greatest as about 90% of the world’s visually impaired people live in developing countries.

©Sean Breithaupt

For the last 30 years ORBIS has been preventing and treating blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improved access to quality eye care and partnerships with local healthcare organisations, in an effort to eliminate avoidable blindness. Our work leaves a lasting legacy by training local medical professionals to treat and teach quality eye care in their own communities.

Together our achievements include; Since 1982, ORBIS and its partners have trained over 288,000 doctors, nurses and other medical professionals ORBIS and its partners have performed approximately 800,000 surgeries, of which 180,000 have been on children ORBIS has worked in 89 countries to train eye care professionals and restore sight, since 1982.

ORBIS continues to spear head childhood blindness prevention around the world and has assisted in the creation of two new specialist centres in South Africa and Zambia, as part of a ten centre programme.

The future looks bright with the next generation Flying Eye Hospital due for completion in 2013 and exciting sight-saving programmes in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Be part of the lasting ORBIS legacy. Give sight, give opportunity, give now for a brighter future!

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