Flying Eye Hospital wraps up a successful sight-saving project in Ghana

This project concluded more than two weeks before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive expanding flight restrictions to include MD-10s.

On board the plane, more than 130 eye care professionals from across Ghana took part in hands-on surgical training, simulation sessions, and workshops led by Orbis volunteer experts. These simulation exercises give surgeons a safe, controlled space to practice techniques before operating on real patients.  The training covered eye surgery subspecialties such as retinal operations, eyelid procedures, and strabismus surgery to correct misaligned eyes. By the end, 40 patients received life-changing surgeries and 59 were screened; many of them children now looking toward a brighter future. This work was made possible thanks to the generous support of people like you and global partners, who fund the plane, equipment, and training programmes.

These teams will pass on their knowledge, building a stronger, self-sustaining eye-care system for generations. Biomedical engineers, for example, were trained to maintain complex equipment like surgical microscopes, ensuring future surgeries can continue safely.

A highlight of the project was the Flying Eye Hospital’s Women Leaders in Eye Health coffee hour. Hosted on board the plane and joined by participants from 40+ countries, the session celebrated mentorship and women’s leadership in ophthalmology - an area where we, alongside our partners and supporters, continue to champion equality and opportunity.

This marked Orbis’s fourth Flying Eye Hospital project in Ghana since 1990 - and one of its most wide-reaching. Through a mix of surgery, simulation, and mentorship, Ghana’s eye health professionals are now better equipped than ever to deliver high-quality, sustainable care. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our Title Sponsors, Alcon, FedEx, and OMEGA, the dedication of our local partners and the incredible support of the Orbis community around the world.

Together, you helped bring training, technology, and hope to communities across Ghana, and your commitment ensures that quality eye care continues to reach those who need it most.