This International Nurses Day, we’re shining a light on Elisa Urruchi, an extraordinary ophthalmic nurse and infection control specialist from Peru, whose work is changing lives across the world.
Meet Orbis nurse Elisa Urruchi from Peru.
Elisa first connected with Orbis while volunteering as a translator on a sight-saving project. Deeply moved by the experience, she joined Orbis in 2011 – fulfilling what she calls a lifelong dream.
“In August 2010, Orbis emailed me asking if I was still interested. I said yes straight away – my heart was beating so hard. It was my dream, and it still is.”
Based in Lima, Elisa travels the world as part of the Flying Eye Hospital team, training nurses in everything from preparing patients for surgery to maintaining sterile environments and supporting recovery.
She also works with our partner hospitals, making sure that wherever we go, patients receive the highest standard of care.
For Elisa, educating other nurses is vital:
“We train nurses to understand eye surgery, anticipate the surgeon’s needs, and maintain strict sterile techniques to prevent infection and support the best outcomes for patients.”
She adds:
“Teaching proper scrubbing is so important. It removes microbes from the hands and arms – and helps protect patients from dangerous infections.”
Gallery: Nurse Elisa on the Flying Eye Hospital
Elisa holds a nursing degree from the Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú, a master’s in health services management, and a specialist diploma in ophthalmic care.
She also co-authored the Orbis Ophthalmic Nursing Competency Assessment Rubric – a widely used tool that helps assess the skills of ophthalmic nurses and technicians around the world.
Elisa is the co-founder and current president of La Asociación Peruana de Enfermeros en Oftalmología – South America’s first ophthalmic nursing association. Founded in 2006, they unite and empower eye care nurses across Peru through education, collaboration and advocacy.
With support from Orbis and Alcon, Elisa will lead two major events in Lima, Peru in 2025:
She is also helping to organise the International Conference and Workshop for International Nurses Day in La Paz, Bolivia, taking place on 12 May 2025.
Elisa recalls a powerful moment from her career:
“I helped correct strabismus in a 70-year-old man. He had lived with it since childhood – simply because he never had access to care.”
And one unforgettable young patient:
“After his surgery, he refused to let go of the doctor’s hand. He thought that if the doctor left, his sight would disappear too.”
Gallery: Nurse Elisa training nursing teams around the world
We are deeply grateful to Elisa for her dedication, compassion, and tireless commitment to improving eye care. Her work gives nurses the tools to thrive – and gives patients around the world hope for a brighter future.
Support Nursing This International Nurses Day and help us train more eye care nurses like Elisa. Your support helps bring expert eye care to communities around the world.
Help us improve eye care by training nursing teams around the world!
