The Flying Eye Hospital: A Marvel of International Eye Care
Editor:
Riya Patel, BS
Riya is a second-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Orbis International is revolutionizing global eye care through its innovative Flying Eye Hospital, advocacy efforts, and cutting-edge telemedicine platform, aiming to eliminate preventable blindness and empower local healthcare systems worldwide.
INTRODUCTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE CARE
Ophthalmology and eye care hold a unique position in the realm of global health, policy, and advocacy. Approximately, 2.2 billion people worldwide have vision impairments, with over half of them being preventable or yet to be treated [1]. Within this landscape, Orbis International has carved a niche position for itself, revolutionizing eye care access through its Flying Eye Hospital and sustained advocacy efforts. The global collaboration and policy against inequity demonstrated by Orbis International serves as a sign of hope and innovation in the global ophthalmology space.
ORBIS INTERNATIONAL: THE FLYING EYE HOSPITAL
Orbis International has differentiated itself from other organizations with its iconic Flying Eye Hospital, “a state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom, and recovery room” housed within an MD-10 aircraft [2]. With its ability to reach the most underserved regions of the world, Orbis’ Flying Eye Hospital can deliver high-quality ophthalmic care and empower local healthcare providers with hands-on training.
Rather than focusing just on screening and treating patients, the Flying Eye Hospital embodies a dual mission of also fostering self-sufficiency among local health systems. Real-time surgical demonstrations and training sessions with a multidisciplinary team of medical volunteers help disseminate knowledge, techniques, and skills to healthcare providers practicing in underserved regions.
Within the past four decades, the Flying Eye Hospital has taken care teams to over 95 countries [2] to contribute to the global fight to end avoidable blindness beyond the operating room.
ADVOCACY AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT
As previously mentioned with Orbis’ dual mission, this organization understands that true progress requires systemic change, groundbreaking advocacy, and policy engagement. By partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO), Orbis’ advocacy efforts helped develop WHO’s World Report on Vision, which laid down the foundation for addressing global visual impairments.
With specific focuses such as women and girls clinics and sustainable/green projects, Orbis’ true understanding of community-level problems and their innovative solutions is demonstrated [3].
CYBERSIGHT
Orbis International continues to amaze with its innovation in our ever-changing world. With the increasing prevalence and demand for telehealth across the world, Orbis has scaled a cutting-edge telemedicine platform called Cybersight.
With offline functionality for regions with poor internet access and educational tools at anyone’s fingertips, Cybersight has delivered more than 30,000 patient consultations from all regions of the world. Furthermore, Cybersight has improved healthcare provider education by delivering specialized webinars, lectures, and videos to hundreds of thousands of individuals [4].
CONCLUSION
Without forgetting that eye care is a necessity, Orbis International has developed an organization that touches on every aspect of international ophthalmology, from technological innovation to medical education to advocacy and policy making.
To learn more, read stories, and contribute to Orbis International’s mission, visit their website.
REFERENCES
1. World Health Organization. Blindness and vision impairment. 2023; Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment.
2. Orbis International. Flying Eye Hospital. Available from: https://www.orbis.org/en/what-we-do/flying-eye-hospital.
3. Orbis International. Inside women-led green vision centers. Available from: https://www.orbis.org/en/what-we-do/flying-eye-hospital.
4. Orbis International. Celebrating 20 years of Cybersight. Available from: https://www.orbis.org/en/news/2023/20-years-cybersight.
