In 2000, Orbis began carrying out long term projects to help create quality, affordable and accessible eye care for rural communities, particularly in western China’s remote ethnic minority areas.
Our Work in China
Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital first visited Guangzhou, China in 1982.
Avoidable Blindness in China
China is estimated to have the largest number of blind people in the world – around 8.9 million.
Yet most eye care professionals, particularly surgically skilled ophthalmologists, are located and practising in urban areas, while a majority of people living with blindness are based in rural areas.
8.9 million
people living with blindness
32
ophthalmologists per million people
Around 34%
of blindness in China is caused by cataracts
Can a simple pair of glasses improve the mental health and wellbeing of children with visual impairment?
To mark Research Appreciation Day on 05 July we want to shine a light on the question that a new Orbis study aims to answer.
Saving Sight in China
Our partners and supporters like you have helped us:
- Strengthen 118 community and town health centres capacity with vision screening equipment and training
- Supported Shanxi Eye Hospital to establish Shanxi Paediatric Ophthalmology Wing, which was the first children's ophthalmology centre in China
- Carry out trainings for eye care professionals
- Perform eye surgeries in hospitals
- Host over 40 Flying Eye Hospital visits
Heroes of Orbis: Xiao Ying
Xiao Ying has been a nurse since 1999. After 5 years at the Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital in China, Xiao was selected to attend an Orbis training program. She enjoyed her experience so much that she returned the next year to volunteer for Orbis—ultimately inspiring her to join the Flying Eye Hospital team as a staff nurse. The rest is history!
Impact In 2022
650
Trainings for eye care professionals
33,400
Community eye screenings and examinations
2,040
Eye surgeries performed in hospitals
What’s Next?
Today Orbis is working with partners in China to:
- Find sustainable solutions to address the lack of quality, affordable and accessible eye care services for the rural poor
- Build rural eye care networks and developing partner ophthalmic skills
- Collaborate with the National Committee for Prevention of Blindness and provincial prevention blindness offices to address diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity
Help support our sight saving work across China
