News and stories

UK Government closes UK Aid Direct Fund leaving unfinished work in Gedeo, Amaro and Burji

From 2018-2021 Orbis UK’s work in Gedeo, Amaro and Burji in southern Ethiopia was supported by a UK Aid Direct grant from the UK government. The grant enabled us to extend our sight-saving work in Ethiopia, where around four million people are visually impaired.

Paediatric patient Ismail from Bangladesh looking through his glasses

HRH The Countess of Wessex Attends Launch of our Surgical Fund Appeal

September 14, 2021

On Tuesday 14th September, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex joined us to mark the launch of our Surgical Fund Appeal at the Royal College of Surgeons in central London.

Bharati teaching her students at school in Nepal

Children in Britain missing eye tests and those in low-income countries most at risk of sight loss

September 02, 2021

New findings released reveal the impact of the pandemic on children’s eyesight in Britain. 7 in 10 adults are not aware that children should have an eye test at 4-5 years of age, as recommended by the NHS, and half of all parents with a child under 18 are not aware of this.

Ayat's story: sight-saving eye care in the Rohingya refugee camps

August 31, 2021

At just 11 years old, Ayat’s life had already been filled with more challenges and hardships than many people experience in a lifetime.

His father abandoned his family when he was very little, and to make life even more difficult, his vision started to get blurry when he was just four years old – and continued getting progressively worse.

Patient stories: treating Mandido, Ethiopia, for trachoma

August 01, 2021

Mandido, 50, had trachoma for three years, which had a profound effect on her ability to work and support her family. Her husband is unable to work, making her sight crucial for their future

Aissatou from Cameroon waits for cataract surgery

UN commits to eye care for all by 2030

July 28, 2021

The United Nations has passed its first resolution dedicated to vision loss, backed by all 193 members, to incorporate eye health into the Sustainable Development Goals.

MP's broken promise on aid budget marks death knell for ‘Global Britain’ agenda and will leave marginalised communities facing hunger, malnutrition and disease, says International Aid Sector

July 14, 2021

UK international aid sector response to yesterday’s parliamentary vote which confirms the government’s plan to reduce UK aid to 0.5% of GNI, until a set of fiscal conditions allow a return to 0.7% in the future.

The 2020 Orbis Annual Report is here

July 12, 2021

We’re immensely proud of the work our supporters made possible in 2020. A global pandemic didn’t stop us from helping to save sight all over the world. For our 2020 annual report, we wanted to do something special to mark an extraordinary year. We're pleased to announce that our interactive 2020 Online Annual Report is now ready for you to browse.

Cataract surgery has transformed Birketo's life

June 28, 2021

Birketo is around 80 years old and has 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.