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Fighting Global Blindness | Orbis UK Homepage

Celebrating Saraswati Puja with Megha

May 22, 2019

Megha, aged 12, loves reading and she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. But when problems with her vision – problems she didn't even realise she was having, until an Orbis-funded REACH screening revealed them – started to impact her school performance, she needed help.

Give a donation

When you donate to Orbis you can have an enormous impact on people's lives in some of the poorest parts of the world. We'll use your gift where it's needed the most. It could help pay for a sight-restoring cataract operation, protect communities from blinding trachoma or even give a child a pair of glasses that will help them continue in school.

Save the sight of children like Kisan and Shashant

Brothers Kisan and Shashant were both struggling with severe short-sightedness – and it was affecting their lives both in and out the classroom. Neither could read the whiteboard at school, they had problems reading and they were struggling to play their favourite sport with their friends – cricket.

Technology and Innovation in Eye Care

With avoidable blindness set to triple by 2050, we need to reverse the trend before it’s too late. The old way simply isn’t working. We need to push boundaries and lead from the front of eye health innovation now, if we’re going to help ensure a brighter tomorrow.

In pictures: Trinh's journey to clear sight

15-year-old Trinh was at risk of going blind. However after receiving treatment on-board the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, this inspirational young lady is now working hard to one-day ​try and help other people like her.

Clear vision, big ambition: David dreams of playing for Chelsea

May 29, 2019

David was only 4 months old when his mother noticed his eyes weren't quite right, but because his family felt the condition would go away, he was 8 before he received surgery. You wouldn't know it now: at 12, David is happiest on the football pitch and keeping up with his favourite team – Chelsea.

Flying Eye Hospital - Take A Tour

Find out more about this amazing aircraft or take a virtual reality tour - the next best thing to visiting it in person.

Flying Eye Hospital

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is unlike any plane you’ve seen before. A state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom and recovery room - this amazing aircraft has been a beacon of hope since 1982.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Chile For State-of-the-Art Simulation Training

May 16, 2019

The Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in Santiago, Chile, for the very first time ahead of its second project of 2019. Thanks to the generosity of our project sponsor Collins Aerospace, we will focus on strengthening the skills of local teams through cutting-edge simulation training.

Denzil Can Move Forward With His Life After Cataract Surgery

May 15, 2019

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness over 1.1 million people suffer from vision loss in the Caribbean, with Cataract accounting for 50% of this.

Orbis in the news

June 17, 2019

There is now less than a week to go until the end of our See My Future appeal – and the campaign is still making headlines.

Jamaica: Flying Eye Hospital Project Highlights

May 15, 2019

The Flying Eye Hospital and our family of staff, crew and Volunteer Faculty have recently returned from a hugely successful 19-day program in Kingston, Jamaica.

Below we share some amazing images and brand new updates from our partners and volunteers.

Our Jamaica Wrap-Up In Numbers

April 29, 2019

When you think of Jamaica, you might imagine clear waters, white sand and beautiful views. But did you know that many people in the Caribbean are suffering from treatable blinding conditions?

Give a monthly donation

Giving a monthly gift to Orbis helps us give the gift of sight to those who need it the most. It’s a very efficient way to give a gift and it helps us plan where to spend the money most effectively. This all adds up to make a monthly donation to Orbis the best way you can save people’s sight in the poorest parts of the world.

Join the Orbis family and help save children from blindness

Orbis UK is a charity that brings people together to fight avoidable blindness and save the sight of people like Mariya (pictured above). We believe that no one should live a life of unnecessary blindness, simply because of where they were born. By setting up a regular gift to Orbis, you can help transform the lives of people like Mariya forever.

Ganga's new glasses are making a world of difference

May 19, 2019

16-year-old Ganga loves cooking, playing and reading with her older sister – but before an Orbis-funded school screening revealed she had high myopia, this enthusiastic young student found it difficult to see clearly enough to enjoy her hobbies.

Explore the history of the flying eye hospital

For more than 25 years, the Flying Eye Hospital has been at the cutting edge of aviation, technology and change – bringing vital eye care to thousands of people worldwide.

The teachers helping students to see their future

May 07, 2019

Those who can, teach – and teachers can make a huge difference. For many of the children we've worked with, it was at school that issues with their sight were first revealed. So, as it's Teacher Appreciation Week, we're paying tribute to the wonderful, hard-working individuals who do so much to help their students.

A Q&A with Mr Adhikari: an optometrist changing lives in nepal

Mr Adhikari is the optometrist who screened Rabi’s vision and made sure he received the pair of glasses that transformed his world. Brenda Naluyima, Orbis UK's Senior Communications Officer, recently sat down with Mr Adhikari to ask him some questions and get an insight into his life-changing work.

1 in 10 people can’t remember the last time they went to the optician

June 13, 2019

With global blindness set to triple by 2050, how can we take better care of our own eye health here in the UK?

Orbis: An eye sight charity changing lives all over the world

Orbis is a charity that has been changing people’s lives all over the world for over 20 years. We bring people together to protect and restore people’s eye sight and give them a brighter future. Your support can help us continue this sight-saving work.

Football-loving Alexandre can get back to doing what he loves

April 23, 2019

"It was my first time to go on a plane!" Teenager Alexandre tells us what it was like to undergo cataract treatment aboard the Flying Eye Hospital – and why having the surgery was so important for him and his family.

Volunteer anaesthetist Ian Fleming on what it's really like to deliver surgical training

July 26, 2019

Ian Fleming, a consultant anaesthetist at King’s College Hospital, has been an Orbis volunteer since 2005. Over the past 15 years he has trained fellow anaesthetists in countries including Syria, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, and Vietnam, both onboard the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and within local hospitals.

Vietnam: Young Tam saved from a life of blindness

July 30, 2019

Tam from Quy Nhon, Vietnam, struggled with his vision from an early age. But thanks to your support, and the work of our Vietnam country office and partners we were able to give Tam his sight back without any cost to his family. Tam was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts and had it not been spotted in time, he would have been blind permanently.

Do you know these eye health facts?

With global blindness set to triple by 2050, how can we take better care of our own eye health here in the UK?

Claire Goldsmith Eyewear

Claire Goldsmith, one of the most influential designers and creators of modern-day eyewear, has been supporting Orbis since 2017 through gift in kind donations.

Vietnam: Phuong no longer teased at school

August 01, 2019

Phuong from Hoai Nhon, Vietnam, was three months old when her family first spotted her crossed-eyes. After years of wrongly being told that glasses would fix her poor vision, an Orbis-supported school screening program finally gave little Phuong & her anxious mother hope for the future.

Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT)

DMGT, a multinational portfolio of companies that provide businesses and consumers with information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment, have selected Orbis to be one of their charity partners from 2018 – 2020.

In pictures: Bold-Erdene's future looks bright

Bold-Erdene was 10 years old when volunteer oculoplastics surgeons treated his left eyelid on our Flying Eye Hospital in Mongolia.

Without that surgery to correct his ptosis in 2014 he would have been at risk of going blind in his left eye. Read more about how his life has been transformed thanks to your support!

The view from the cockpit: 10 questions with Captain Gary Dyson

July 30, 2019

Orbis’s Chief Pilot, Gary Dyson, quite literally leads our fight against avoidable blindness – landing our plane safely in communities around the world. We took a moment with Gary to reflect on his lifetime dedicated to giving back and changing lives.

Help fund the Flying Eye Hospital with Eye Give

July 29, 2019

We are delighted to announce that we have launched our brand-new e-commerce platform - Eye Give. On Eye Give, you can purchase items which could help fund our Flying Eye Hospital and save people’s sight in some of the poorest parts of the world.

The history of the Great Ethiopian Run

July 29, 2019

This November's Great Ethiopian Run will be the tenth Orbis has participated in, but the history of Africa's biggest road race goes back even further, to 2001...

Older millennials more likely to experience light sensitivity than any other group

June 23, 2019

With computers and smart phones now a staple of modern life, how can we make sure we protect our eyes from the glare of the screen?

Dr. Faisal Naqadan: The Ophthalmologist championing Qatar Creating Vision

July 18, 2019

We recently caught up with Ophthalmologist, Dr Faisal Naqadan (pictured in the black top above) to hear about his experiences with Qatar Creating Vision and the impact the programme is having on the lives of people in India and Bangladesh.

The Great Ethiopian Run 2019: what to expect

July 19, 2019

Join us at the Great Ethiopian Run in November and take part in an event that's as close to a party as any run will ever be – and that's not all you'll get for your fundraising efforts...

See My Future: How you’ve helped transform lives in Nepal

August 23, 2019

Thank you! Because of your support and generosity, our See My Future appeal was a huge success. The money you helped raise will also be matched by the UK government, so twice as many people will receive the sight saving treatments they deserve.

Save a child like Rabi’s sight

Little Rabi’s world was a blur. He has high myopia, or extreme short-sightedness, and it was affecting his life both at school and at home.

A charity saving people from blindness

Orbis has been protecting people from blindness and restoring the sight of people who are blind for over 20 years. We bring people together in the fight against avoidable blindness, and work with partners to develop long-term strategies to restore sight. Your support can help us continue this vital work.

HRH The Countess of Wessex joins Orbis to celebrate the achievements of Qatar Creating Vision

July 04, 2019

Orbis have announced that their eye health initiative, Qatar Creating Vision - funded by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), has delivered an incredible 5.5 million eye tests to children across India and Bangladesh in the last three years.

Four Reasons Blindness is a Gender Issue

February 27, 2020

55% of people who are visually impaired are women. Across the world, 90 million women don’t have access to life-changing eye care. So why this disparity between men and women’s access to eye care? Below, we list some of the causes…

See My Future: Kisan and Shashant's transformations

Flying Eye Hospital Celebrates First All-Female Flight Crew

April 25, 2019

We have some exciting news! Our Flying Eye Hospital welcomed its first ever all-female flight crew last week on a flight between Kingston, Jamaica and Memphis, Tennessee.

Save a child like Rabi’s sight

Little Rabi’s world was a blur. He has high myopia, or extreme short-sightedness, and it was affecting his life both at school and at home.

Focus on the Flying Eye Hospital

The first half of 2019 has been a busy period for the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, with visits to Jamaica and Chile.

Great Ethiopian Run: visiting Gamo Gofa

December 19, 2018

​Travelling to Ethiopia for the Great Ethiopian Run was incredible and a lot of fun. But visiting Gamo Gofa, runner Emma says in her second blog, was the most memorable and moving part of the trip.

Kisan and Shasant can enjoy cricket again

March 25, 2019

Brothers Kisan, 12, and Shashant, 10, were both struggling with short-sightedness so severe that, according to one senior optometrist, the World Health Organisation would classify them blind. After an Orbis-funded programme revealed they had high myopia, the boys were prescribed glasses - and now life has improved dramatically.

See My Future

Through the eyes of women and girls

Did you know there is a gender gap in blindness? 55% of people who are visually impaired are women. Below, we explore the reasons behind this injustice and profile some of the women who are doing something about it. After all, a brighter future for women is a brighter future for the planet.

International Women's Day: Meet Orbis hero Valerie Suberg

March 07, 2019

In honour of International Women's Day we're delighted to introduce you to a vital member of the Orbis family - Valerie Suberg - our Senior Manager of Aircraft Maintenance. Without this incredible woman, our Flying Eye Hospital would never get off the ground - literally.

Chief Pilot Gary Dyson Wins Endeavor Award

March 04, 2019

We’re thrilled to announce our wonderful Flying Eye Hospital Chief Pilot, Gary Dyson, has won an Endeavor Award. The award recognises pilots who go above and beyond to transform lives by volunteering their time and skills to good causes.

What's in your eye?

January 24, 2019

The human eye is an amazing organ. Here we take a look at what’s actually happening inside your eye.

Meet the bear with the best job ever!

January 24, 2019

Our volunteers fly all over the world to fight avoidable blindness. But, while they’re giving the gift of sight, there’s a particularly fluffy member of our team making a different kind of impact…

Industrial Optimizers

Industrial Optimizers has committed to supporting Orbis UK, kick-starting the partnership with a donation of £1000.

Great Ethiopian Run: Emma's story

December 17, 2018

​For the very first time, Orbis UK sent a team of runners out from the UK to take part in the Great Ethiopian Run. Here, runner Emma tells us all about the experience.

Rabi, 7: “I can see people far away!”

March 25, 2019

Rabi wants to be a policeman or teacher when he grows up, but his studies were impacted by his high myopia – a condition of near-sightedness that means he is unable to see objects at a distance of more than a few metres away. Now, after treatment and with a new pair of glasses, Rabi is looking to the future.

Patient stories: treating Aylito, Ethiopia, for trachoma

December 11, 2018

Aylito underwent trachoma surgery in 2013 to save the sight in her right eye. We caught up with her in 2018, five years on, to try and understand the effect that this Orbis intervention has had on her life.

Patient stories: treating Malate, Ethiopia, for trachoma

February 01, 2020

Mother of two Malate had been suffering with trachoma for a year without seeking help for fear of the cost. When she met Abiyot, an Orbis-trained Integrated Eye Care Worker, everything changed. Now, having undergone trachomatous trichiasis surgery, Malate is excited to start this new chapter in her life.

Eye care in Ethiopia: Banchi, schoolteacher

December 11, 2018

One of the many life-changing initiatives Orbis has spearheaded in Ethiopia to improve eye care and vision loss, is treating and preventing the spread of trachoma in schools.

Meet Abiyot: Integrated Eye Care Worker, Ethiopia

November 22, 2018

Abiyot is an Integrated Eye Care Worker in Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia, where he grew up. He lives there with his wife and four children. Trained just two years ago, he has made a significant impact on his community already.

Timeline: 20 years in Ethiopia

We're celebrating 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia. Take a moment to scroll through the highlights from this amazing milestone. A big thank you to all our wonderful staff, partners and volunteers, without whom, none of this would be possible.

Diabetes Week: the hidden risk of blindness

June 10, 2019

This Diabetes Week we’re shining a spotlight on the role that the Orbis family plays in eliminating one of the fastest growing causes of avoidable blindness – diabetic retinopathy.

Supporter Stories: Meet some of our Great Ethiopian Run Heroes

November 13, 2018

To celebrate 20 years of working in Ethiopia, we will have some of our amazing supporters and corporate partners join us for this year’s Great Ethiopian Run.

BDOC

The BDOC is the German association of surgical ophthalmologists, with over 1.300 members.

Bitisha, journalist in the making

March 25, 2019

Bitisha's ambition is to be a journalist, and she wants to support her parents when she grows up. The 15-year-old had always “hated family photos," due to a squint that meant her eyes were misaligned - until Orbis helped Bitisha access the surgery she needed to correct the intermittent exotropia, or strabismus, that caused her squint.

MEET THE WOMEN FIGHTING BLINDNESS IN BANGLADESH

October 09, 2018

The Singra Vision Center in Bangladesh is a unique place to go for eye care. It’s successfully run by three hardworking and dedicated eye health professionals who are all women in their 20s.

Help a child continue their education

For children struggling with high myopia (being severely short-sighted), school can be a real challenge. It can make it difficult to do many of the things people take for granted – like being able to see the whiteboard, read textbooks, or even play with their friends.

Gransnet

Gransnet is a social networking site for grandparents and the over 50s.

Orbis in Nepal - an urgent need to screen children's sight

April 25, 2019

We are a month into our See My Future appeal and with the UK government doubling all public donations before 23rd June, your generosity is helping us change lives. All the money matched will go towards expanding our project in Nepal, which screens and treats children with sight loss, enabling them to attend school and face a brighter future.

Where we're going in 2019

After a busy beginning to the year with awareness raising tours and aircraft maintenance, our Flying Eye Hospital team are preparing for more sight saving trips where they'll be taking some of the best eye teams in the business to share their skills in the communities that need it most.

Peter Kerly gets set for his fifth London Marathon

April 08, 2019

63-year-old Peter Kerly from Kent is busy fundraising for Orbis ahead of the London Marathon next month - and this year, for the first time ever, he will be running alongside his son.

HRH The Countess of Wessex helps launch See My Future appeal

March 29, 2019

Yesterday evening, on Thursday 28th March, HRH The Countess of Wessex joined us to mark the launch of our See My Future appeal, which will see the UK government double all public donations made before 23rd June.

UK government doubles all donations for Orbis See My Future appeal

March 25, 2019

Give before 23rd June and all public donations to our See My Future appeal will be doubled by the UK government. Your gift will help bring clear vision to twice as many people around the world. Donate today, and double your impact.

The Ophthalmologist

The Ophthalmologist brings real journalism to the field of ophthalmology.

Sock Shop

Sock Shop is a British retailer of socks, underwear, hosiery and scarves. Established in 1983, offers a round-the-clock service from a historic Bolton mill, delivering to over 240 countries.

Missguided

Missguided is a bold, straight-talking and forward-thinking fashion brand that aims to empower females globally.

Glenmuir

Established in Scotland in 1891, Glenmuir are purveyors of luxury golf clothing.

HELPING WOMEN FIGHT TRACHOMA IN ETHIOPIA

February 01, 2020

We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary working in Ethiopia. For the past two decades, we've been part of the international consortium leading the global effort to eliminate blinding trachoma, an infectious disease that disproportionately affects women.

Fuelworx

Fuelworx, part of the Flightworx group, is a neutral and independent fuel comparison and procurement service. Orbis and Fuelworx began working together in March 2017 after Fuelworx was selected as one of Orbis’s five tender fuel companies.

ConnectJets

ConnectJets is as one of the leading private jet brokers within the UK sales and charter markets. Based in London, the company launched in 2009 and is the exclusive sales agent for Piaggio Aerospace.

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance is one of the world's pre-eminent law firms, working across five continents.

Belledorm

Established over 30 years ago in Manchester - home of the UK textile industry - Belledorm is one of the largest suppliers of home linen in the country. The company operates out of the iconic Kearsley Mill, a 19th Century textile mill.

B&M

B&M is one of the UK's leading variety retailers, with over 600 stores and 28,000 staff. Every week, more than 3 million shoppers visit a B&M store.

Partnering with influential women in the community

January 25, 2018

In 2017 we began partnering with 'Queen Mothers' - respected women who have influential positions in their communities, to help improve public awareness on eye care in Ghana.

A life dedicated to fighting blindness in Mongolia

February 08, 2019

As one of the most qualified cataract ophthalmologists in Mongolia Dr. Enkhutshin's work ethic is pretty inspiring. With the country's cataract rates so high and a cataract surgical rate the lowest in Asia, she's committed to fighting blindness in her country by sharing her top class eye care skills with local eye care teams.

The women fighting blindness in Zambia

January 11, 2016

In 2015 we conducted a research initiative to investigate why fewer women than men were accessing cataract surgical treatment in the Northwest province.

Passenger Experience Week supports Orbis for the second year running

March 19, 2019

As Charity Partner for Passenger Experience Week 2019, Orbis will have an opportunity to reach new supporters and raise awareness.

Volunteering in Jamaica

When you think of Jamaica, you might imagine blue sea, white sands and beautiful views. However, it has the same challenges as most developing countries. Did you know that many people in the Caribbean suffer unnecessarily from treatable blinding conditions?

Running for sight at the London Marathon 2019

Long-time Orbis supporter, Kathryn Benjamin, ran the London Marathon earlier this year for the fifth time! We asked her all about how she got in to running...

Orbis in Ethiopia: 20 years of fighting avoidable blindness

October 25, 2018

Last night Orbis UK marked 20 years of fighting blindness in Ethiopia with an event in London to thank the supporters, volunteers and partners who’ve made our work in the country possible.

Prince’s Story: Next Stop, The Premier League

March 27, 2020

We meet Prince on the screening day of Orbis’s Flying Eye Hospital programme in Accra, Ghana. He attends the Right to Dream Academy – a non-profit school for children from Ghana who excel at football. At first, Prince comes across as shy. But on the pitch, it’s a different story.

Preserving your eye health during lockdown

May 06, 2020

Orbis Trustee and Eye Surgeon, Rob Walters (FRCS, FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth) shares his advice on when and how you should seek help for eye health issues during the current pandemic.

Messages from the Orbis Family

We offered Orbis supporters the opportunity to send messages of encouragement to our Orbis volunteers and staff who are now fighting the coronavirus on the frontline. We've been overwhelmed with the response we've received and all of the lovely messages are shared below.

Dr. Andrew Choyce Provides Critical Care on Front-lines of Pandemic

April 20, 2020

This is Dr. Andrew Choyce, Orbis Staff Anaesthetist. Andrew started volunteering with us 15 years ago, but for the last 10 years has been working for us part time - splitting his hours between the Flying Eye Hospital and his London Hospitals, Kings College & the Maudsley.

Orbis Nurse Xiao Ying Helps Colleagues Around the World Protect Themselves Against Coronavirus

April 15, 2020

Xiao Ying is a nurse from a small village in Wuhan, China, which recently became synonymous with the first confirmed cases of coronavirus. Xiao Ying has been using her infection control expertise, and years of teaching experience gained on the Flying Eye Hospital, to help colleagues around the world protect themselves against the virus.

New study proves urgency of eye care access in Rohingya refugee Community

April 01, 2020

Community experiences 3-6 times as many cases of operable cataract in working age people compared to host population in southeast Bangladesh.

Altacor

Altacor is a UK based ophthalmic specialty pharmaceutical company with a growing portfolio of ophthalmic products. The company began supporting Orbis and the Flying Eye Hospital in 2020 after a presentation to staff.

Hakeema dreams of going to school

Hakeema’s parents first spotted problems with her sight when she was just a month old. They rushed her to hospital, where she was given contact lenses for treatment. But they did nothing to help correct her vision – and it continued getting worse.

Hakeema redirect

Farnborough International Airshow 2020 Cancelled Due To Coronavirus

March 24, 2020

It is with regret that we share the news that the Farnborough International Airshow 2020 – of which Orbis was the charity partner – has been cancelled due to the global Coronavirus pandemic.