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Fighting Global Blindness | Orbis UK Homepage

Aircraft Interiors Expo / Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions, the world's leading event’s organiser, selected Orbis as their charity partner for the Aircraft Interiors Expo in 2018 and have continued to support by selecting Orbis for the 2019 exhibition.

Linh's footballing dreams

October 01, 2019

When 12-year-old Linh was diagnosed with strabismus in his right eye - his family needed no introduction to the condition. His mother had already been treated by an Orbis-supported team for the same condition. So when she realised Linh was struggling with his vision - she knew she needed to get him treatment as soon as possible.

Give the gift of sight to a child like Pinki

Since she was born, Pinki’s eyes continuously flickered back and forth, both opaque with cataracts. When a child is born with cataracts, if their eyes are not treated in time, they can fail to develop properly – and in some cases this can leave them irreversibly blind.

Vietnam Flying Eye Hospital Project Wrap-Up

September 19, 2019

Our 2019 Flying Eye Hospital Project in Hue, Vietnam, has now drawn to close. The three-week project was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to the commitment and enthusiasm of our local partners from the Hue Eye Hospital.

See My Future: You've helped raise £1.39 million to save sight!

September 30, 2019

We’re pleased to announce that between 25th March and 23rd June our generous supporters donated over £738,000 to our See My Future appeal. With Gift Aid and match funding from the UK government - the total reached an incredible £1.391 million!

Leave a lasting legacy this Remember A Charity Week

September 09, 2019

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve joined over 200 other charities this Remember A Charity Week in encouraging our supporters to pass on something wonderful by leaving a gift in their Will.

Dr. Wayman: Using technology to improve eye care in Peru

September 05, 2019

Dr. Laura Wayman has been a part of the Orbis Volunteer Faculty family for just over a year-and-a-half. In her day job she is Vice Chair for Education at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Vietnam

August 21, 2019

Our world-class Flying Eye Hospital has arrived in Hue, Vietnam, for a three-week teaching and training project working alongside the Ministry of Health and the Hue Eye Hospital.

Aviation Logistics Network

Aviation Logistics Network (ALN) is one of the world’s largest independent networks specialising in the transportation and logistic requirements of the Aerospace Industry.

Aviation News Ltd

Aviation News Ltd chose Orbis as their charity partner for the European Aviation 100 Awards Dinner 2019. Orbis were delighted to attend the event and were also delighted to be the beneficiary of a raffle held on the night. So far, the partnership has raised over £1,800 since kicking off!

World Aviation Festival 2020

Terrapinn, a global events company promoting innovation and technology that changes people's lives, chose Orbis as their charity partner for the Aviation Festival in 2017 and has continued their support every year since then.

You’re breaking down barriers this World Sight Day

This World Sight Day, we would like to say a massive thank you to our amazing supporters and partners who are helping us to remove the barriers people face when accessing eye care.

STG Aerospace

STG Aerospace, creator of aircraft cabin lighting solutions, selected Orbis to be their Charity Partner in December 2018 and kicked off the partnership with a corporate donation in lieu of sending Christmas cards. Employees also held a Christmas Jumper day in aid of Orbis and donated generously at their Christmas party.

Flying Eye Hospital Prepares For Vietnam

August 08, 2019

Our Flying Eye Hospital staff and crew are gearing up for the next project in Hue, Vietnam, marking its 10th trip to this beautiful country. The three-week project - due to begin later this month - will be focusing on diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and childhood blindness.

STORM Interface

Storm Interface, manufacturer of a range of Assistive Technology Products, have been supporting Orbis since 2019 after choosing them as their Charity Partners.

Eyewitness magazine

Welcome to the online version of our Eyewitness magazine. Inside this edition, you'll find: Sight saving work in a virtual world; Messages to those on the frontline; and More children are seeing their future.

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...

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.

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?

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.

ACS International Schools students reflect on summer 2019 internship

October 02, 2019

This summer, five students from ACS International Schools embarked on a once in a lifetime overseas internship to witness first-hand the sight saving work we do in Vietnam. The internship, now in its nineteenth year, presents the students aged 15 – 16, with a unique opportunity to learn about global eye health.

Orbis airports quiz: crack the code

How well do you know your EYE from your POO? Take our fun airport code quiz to find out, and make sure you sign up for all the latest news from our Flying Eye Hospital as it travels the world fighting avoidable blindness.

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.

Flying Eye Hospital Lands in Ghana

November 21, 2019

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in Accra, Ghana, for a three-week teaching and training project. It’s the third time the plane has been in Ghana where our teams will be working alongside our usual partners - the Ministry of Health, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Helping children see their future

In March last year, Orbis launched our See My Future appeal, with all donations during a three-month period being matched by the UK government.

Five ways you can help change the way the world sees in 2020

2020 is set to be a vital year for eye health around the world. Unless we act now, global blindness is predicted to triple by 2050 – so we’re more determined than ever to ramp up our fight against avoidable blindness and continue protecting the people who are most at risk.

Artificial Intelligence and Eye Health – Orbis to present at Eyecare 2020

January 13, 2020

Orbis is delighted to be participating in Eyecare 2020 - the biggest conference and free exhibition for the optical industry in Scotland, taking place in Glasgow on the 19th and 20th January.

Peru: Saving the sight of triplets at risk of blindness

January 07, 2020

When Elisa first learned that her newborn triplets were at risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity, she didn’t know what it meant. Her three older children hadn’t been screened for the condition and this was the first time she’d heard of it.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Retinopathy of Prematurity is a potentially blinding eye disease that affects premature infants and is the leading cause of blindness among children worldwide. It's particularly prevalent in Latin America & South East Asia where more premature babies are being saved, but few hospitals have the skills & resources to deliver the care needed.

Manish Raval: My volunteering journey with Orbis

In my eight years volunteering with Orbis, I have journeyed to countries including Mongolia, Vietnam, Peru, Zambia, Jamaica and India. Find out more about my journey as a volunteer with Orbis.

Orbis Programmes are expanding thanks to new funding from Qatar Fund for Development

December 15, 2019

In 2020, our joint eye health initiative with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), will be expanding thanks to a new injection of funding from the nation.

Be part of the journey to give the gift of sight

Six-year-old Dieu lives in rural Vietnam with her loving family. They live on very modest means, so when Dieu started developing problems with her eyes, they were unable to get the treatment she needed.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy affects an estimated one-third of people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in adults between 35-50. But what is diabetic retinopathy, what causes it and what can be done to treat or prevent it?

OMK Design

Since 1965, OMK have developed a focused range of seating systems to enhance public spaces. To celebrate World Sight Day 2019, OMK were delighted to announce their partnership with Orbis with the introduction of a donation on the sale of every seat sold.

From the field: UK Volunteer travels to Vietnam with the Flying Eye Hospital

October 30, 2019

UK Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr. Michelle Le Cheminant, volunteered this summer in Vietnam aboard our Flying Eye Hospital. Hear first-hand her experience of sharing her skills with local anaesthetists in the country, and equipping them to fight avoidable blindness in their communities.

Vietnam: Nothing can stand in Khang's way now he can see

November 18, 2019

Khang, 6, from Vietnam was born with ptosis, and later developed a squint which - if left untreated - can cause blindness. Thanks to the help of our supporters and amazing partners enabling him to have the two sight-saving surgeries he needed, this bright boy can look forward to a bright future.

Help a child like Dai

Dai and his family live in a small village in Vietnam. He was diagnosed with cataracts at birth, and for the first nine years of his life he struggled to see. His poor vision affected all corners of his young life. His walk to school was dangerous, and he had to spend most of his days inside the house – so he wouldn’t get hurt when playing outside.

Saliou's story

November 06, 2019

Little Saliou from Cameroon was only three years old when he started struggling with his sight. He couldn't see very well when playing, and his parents noticed that his right eye would often slide sideways before focusing again. To protect him from getting hurt, his worried mother, Hawaou, had to stop him going outside to play.

Suneez

Suneez children’s sunglasses creators, have been supporting Orbis since 2019 with a donation on every pair of glasses sold.

Go Side Mount

Go Side Mount are the creators of the Razor Side Mount System - a complete integrated system designed specifically for side mount diving. Go Side Mount have been supporting Orbis since 2019 with the creation of a limited edition Pink Razor 2.5 system.

Glaucoma: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, glaucoma is the third leading cause of blindness in the world, affecting around 3 million people. But what is glaucoma, how is it caused and what can be done to treat or prevent it?

Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment around the world, accounting for approximately 35% of global blindness according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. But what are cataracts, what are their main causes and what can be done to treat or prevent them?

In Pictures: Meeting Mariya

When we meet three-year-old Mariya, it’s almost impossible to picture her as anything other than the bubbly, energetic and confident young girl who is playing and laughing in front of us. However, until recently, this little girl’s future was at risk, as she was slowly losing her sight.

Cubitts

Cubitts are a modern spectacle maker founded in London in 2013. They have been supporting Orbis since 2019 with a gift in kind donation of glasses frames.

Global Handwashing Day: Orbis's fight against trachoma

October 15, 2019

This Global Handwashing Day, we want to highlight our efforts in Ethiopia towards eliminating trachoma, the world’s leading cause of infectious avoidable blindness.

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.

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!

Ten things you may not know about Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital

Our Flying Eye Hospital spreads hope and raises awareness wherever it flies. To celebrate it, we thought we'd put together ten little known facts about the plane.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Gransnet

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

Glenmuir

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

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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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.

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.

A crisis in sight?

Until recently, the numbers of people around the world who were avoidably blind had been decreasing. However, recent research has identified that global blindness and visual impairment is now set to triple by 2050.