Orbis International

Check out this interview with Orbis President and CEO Derek Hodkey in Authority Magazine, where Derek shares insights into his non-profit journey and leading a mission-driven organization.

Big thanks to all involved.

Purpose Before Profit: Derek Hodkey Of Orbis International On The Benefits Of Running A… An Interview With Chad Silverstein

🚨Good news story alert🚨

We are delighted to share that a new eye screening project is improving the sight and lives of older adults in La Paz, Bolivia! 🇧🇴

Working with our long-standing partner, the National Institute of Ophthalmology (INO), and the Bolivian Red Cross, 330 people have had eye examinations with 250 receiving a free pair of glasses so far. 👀💫

Running between April and September, the project has been dedicated to supporting older adults in financial need. By examining for and identifying refractive errors, we are not only improving sight, but enhancing quality of life, daily productivity, and economic opportunities.

A simple, cost-effective pair of reading glasses 👓 is sometimes all it takes to correct vision and prevent refractive errors from advancing to severe vision impairment and blindness. But in low-to-middle income countries like Bolivia, quality eye care is not always easy to access.

A recent study published in July in the journal PLOS One, conducted in Bangladesh, found that older workers between the ages of 35 and 65 who were given free reading glasses could earn up to 33% more than those without glasses. A different study conducted in India and published in The Lancet Global Health in 2018 found a significant 32% increase in productivity among people over 50 who received a free pair of glasses.

A heartfelt thank you to our partner INO who has been conducting the screenings, producing, and delivering the glasses. Another thanks to the Bolivian Red Cross for backing the project by deploying their volunteers.

And another big shout-out to our wonderful Orbis community whose continued support is improving eye care worldwide. 🙏

Instituto Nacional de Oftalmología - La Paz Bolivia
Cruz Roja Boliviana

Week three of our Flying Eye Hospital ophthalmic training project in Mongolia finished off with surgical training for adult eye care and specialist biomedical training from Title Sponsor, the Alcon Foundation.

Read more 👇

Flying Eye Hospital Latest Week three wraps up

We’re using state-of-the-art technology to improve eye care, but we know that innovation can sometimes mean finding low-tech solutions. 👀💡

This is Moses who has helped restore sight since joining Orbis in 2015. Where he lives in the Copperbelt Province, myths and lack of knowledge put people off getting formal eye care which had led to an increase in avoidable blindness and vision loss in his community. That’s why his role in raising awareness of healthy vision and screening those with potential eye conditions makes such a big difference.

Last year, Moses was getting regular eye health refresher training via a basic cell phone📱This simple, yet effective piece of kit improved his knowledge — and ensured high-quality, relevant training gets into rural communities.

Moses says: “The best empowerment I have received through Orbis is the weekly refresher training. I had forgotten some of the things I learned earlier, but the lessons have enhanced my knowledge which I can articulate very well when I go for outreach programs.

His huge impact on the community has been made possible thanks to a pilot project using low-cost technology like cell phones to enhance knowledge, coordinate eye care efforts, and boost access to eye health services.

Thanks to compassionate people like Moses, and our wonderful supporters and partners, many families in Zambia can look forward to a brighter future with improved eye care. 🌞🔮👀🫶

Here's some pics of our amazing Flying Eye hospital taking off from Victorville, CA, on it's way to Mongolia last month for our latest ophthalmic training project 😁👀✈👊

We were thrilled to attend the COECSA 11th Annual Congress, in Zimbabwe, recently! 😍

The College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa (COECSA) brought together eye care professionals from across Africa and beyond for an enriching three days of networking and knowledge-sharing in the eye health field.

Orbis speakers shared valuable insights with fellow delegates on critical eye health topics. A big thank you to our amazing team including: 👇

🎙️ Hilary Twiggs, Director of Clinical Training and Clinical Services – Opportunities in ophthalmology, Young Ophthalmology Forum. Hilary discussed the opportunities and resources available for young ophthalmologists including Cybersight and the Phaco program.

🎙️ Professor Ciku Mathenge, Regional Medical Advisor – Exam preparation drawing from her personal journey to professorship.

🎙️ Dr. Alemayehu Sisay Country Director Orbis Ethiopia – His talk featured statistics, progress made, and the critical need for more partners to join the effort to fully eliminate trachoma across Africa.

🎙️ Dr. Simon Holland Orbis Canada Board Chairperson – Corneal advances showcasing best practices emerging from recent studies.

🎙️ Lucia Mvula Nadaf Country Director Orbis Zambia – Closing the gender gap in eye health to improve service delivery outcomes for women and girls.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event a success! 👏

During week two of our Flying Eye Hospital project eye teams honed their pediatric surgical skills. Thanks to the support of Title Sponsor, OMEGA Watches, and Orbis donors around the world, we’re helping improve access to quality eye care for children in Mongolia.

Week two wraps up in Mongolia Improving access to quality care for children

✨ Highlights from COECSA 11th Annual Congress! ✨

Held in beautiful Victoria Falls (known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya), Zimbabwe, the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa (COECSA) brought together eye care professionals from across Africa and beyond for an enriching three days of networking and knowledge-sharing. 👀💡

Inspired by a shared passion for advancing eye health and improving the lives of the communities they serve, delegates learned from the brightest minds in the sector, exchanged ideas—collectively shaping the future of vision care.

Speakers from Orbis led sessions and shared valuable insights on important eye health topics such as corneal advances, gender, trachoma elimination, and resources and tips to support young ophthalmologists.

Thank you to all attendees and the team from Orbis for their commitment to improving eye care around the world. 🙏🙏🙏

As our Flying Eye Hospital project in Mongolia comes to a close, we want to thank the Title Sponsor of week three, Alcon Foundation.

The Alcon Foundation has been a generous supporter of Orbis for more than forty years, providing monetary donations for the Flying Eye Hospital. Alcon has also supplied state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment and surgical products through Alcon Cares.

During the project, Alcon’s expert biomedical engineers also led a workshop in Ulaanbaatar to train local teams to operate and maintain critical ophthalmic technology.

“Alcon sees a world where treatable, preventable conditions that affect individuals’ eye health receive the attention they need, when they need it, regardless of geography, gender, age or socioeconomic status,” said Charles Herget, President, Alcon Cares.

“We know that the only way to make quality eye care more available and accessible is by cultivating self-sustaining eye health ecosystems and developing well-trained eye care teams. That’s why we’re proud to support Orbis and its programs that tackle avoidable vision loss by building strong and sustainable eye care systems worldwide.”

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Alcon for being such a committed eye care partner. 👀✈👏💙

This is Komol, a 72-year-old farmer from Bangladesh whose vision was recently saved thanks to Orbis supporters.

When he began experiencing problems with his sight, Komol feared for his livelihood. But with the help of the Orbis community, he was able to visit one of the 41 vision centers established in Bangladesh by Orbis. There, he was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes and referred to a partner hospital for surgery. He received his treatment free of charge and can now see clearly again.

Komol is now a patient turned advocate. By handing out flyers and personally bringing people to the vision center, Komol is mobilizing the community to promote healthy sight. Many of the people he brings receive free surgery, medicine, and glasses, all thanks to you!

See below for a review of week one of our Mongolia 2024 Flying Eye Hospital project! In week one, eye care teams honed their surgical skills using simulation and virtual reality technology, so patients can get the best care available. ✈

Thank you to our supporters for ensuring doctors around the world access best-in-class training. 💙👀

Stay tuned for our week two report coming soon.

Week 1 of our Mongolia training project is complete! Using state-of the-art simulation to train eye teams

An ophthalmic training project dedicated to helping treat strabismus, a major cause of childhood blindness and vision loss in children, has successfully wrapped up at our partner hospital in Hawassa, Ethiopia. 🇪🇹

A big thank you to the Orbis community for helping provide world class ophthalmic training to local teams in Ethiopia. Thanks to you, countless children can now see a brighter future. 💙👀

Read more here:

https://www.orbis.org/en/news/2024/strabismus-training-ethiopia

Thursday August 22, 2024, is the annual Women in Ophthalmology charity networking and social golf tournament at the Legends Golf Course in Carlsbad, CA.

A big thank you to WIO for donating all proceeds of this event to our work helping improve access to quality eye care for women and girls, and for everything they do to improve gender equity in eye care.

Click the link below to find out more about the event and please share.

https://www.wioonline.org/wios-charity-networking-social-golf-tournament/

This is Nandin-Egshig, a young girl who received surgery for cataracts on board the Flying Eye Hospital this week in Mongolia. Local teams observed the surgery so they can continue to provide top-quality eye care long after the plane leaves. ✈

Stay tuned for more news on this brave four year old 💙

The Flying Eye Hospital recently landed in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for its next ophthalmic training project! We want to give a big thank you to Title Sponsor FedEx who sponsored the first week of the project which had a focus on simulation, and whose volunteer pilots—Captains Cyndhi Berwyn and Gary Dyson—safely guided the plane to Mongolia. ✈🇲🇳

“Our commitment to Orbis’s sight-saving mission extends beyond borders. By supporting the Flying Eye Hospital, we empower local eye care teams, enhance surgical skills, and raise awareness about eye health worldwide,” said Jenny Robertson, Senior Vice President, FedEx Global Brand and Communications.

Thank you FedEx for helping us bring quality eye care to Mongolia and all around the world. 💙💙✈

Check out some of the highlights from week one and keep an eye out for more updates coming soon. 👁

Save the date 📅 for Women Leaders in Eye Health “Making Global Connections and Strengthening our Networks” at the World Ophthalmology Congress in Vancouver, Saturday August 17, 7 - 8am PDT.

The session will highlight successful strategies to empower women in ophthalmology. Hear from global leaders who are making a difference by creating programs to support women to enter and thrive in eye health. ♀️👀😷

Moderated by Dr. Sara Wester (Women in Ophthalmology) the coffee hour ☕ session will be filled with networking opportunities, insightful discussions, and collaboration.

A big thank you to the Orbis community for supporting our efforts to advance gender equity in global eye health, and to our partners Women in Ophthalmology and SEVA Foundation for co-organizing this event.

Learn more about it or sign up here 👇

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-global-connections-and-strengthening-our-networks-at-woc-2024-tickets-952873930577?aff=oddtdtcreator

We’re thrilled to announce the official start of our AI-led diabetic retinopathy project in Vietnam which aims to screen 72,000 people with diabetes over the next three years. 🔬👁️🇻🇳

The project is focused on delivering AI-led screenings, specialist training for screening teams, and improving community awareness of diabetic retinopathy, a sight-stealing condition that poses a threat to millions across the country.

We’d like to say a big thank you to our partners NIDEK Global and Amazon Web Services for their help in expanding AI-led screenings in Vietnam. Together with the kindness of our supporters, we’re changing the way the world sees. 🙏

Read more below 👇

AI-led eye screenings launch in Vietnam Orbis teams up with partners and supporters to improve access to eye care lives in Vietnam

It takes a village to raise a Flying Eye Hospital!

These are just some of the wonderful people at ComAv and FedEx who helped with maintenance work before our current sight-saving project in Mongolia.

Jody (second picture on the left) is a Senior VP at ComAv and deserves a special shout out.

Darren (second from right on picture number 3) worked on the original modification and launch of our MD10 aircraft back in 2016.

We’d like to say another big thank you for all your support getting this plane in the air!

This , we’re taking the opportunity to share the inspiring story of little Marla again.

Marla was born with congenital cataracts which affected her vision. To save her sight, she underwent surgery at just 42 days old, making her the youngest person in Mongolia to receive cataract surgery.

Since then, Marla has needed follow-up treatment and surgery and Orbis supporters have been there every step of the way, ensuring Marla can get the care she needs.

And we’re excited to share that, as the Flying Eye Hospital lands in Mongolia for its next sight-saving project, we’re going to catch up with Marla and her family again.

Stay tuned for the latest from this brave little girl.

Improving gender equity in eye care 🙌 👀💫

Women Leaders in Eye Health is hosting "Gender Considerations for working in Global Eye Health" at the Global Ophthalmology Summit in Portland, Oregon, ⌚ Saturday, August 10, 7:00 – 7:40am PDT.

Learn from experts in the field and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. Moderated by Dr. Christy Nelson, this event is perfect for anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge and skills in this important area.

A big thank you to the Orbis community for working towards a more fair and equitable world.

Learn more about the event or sign up here 👇

Gender Considerations for working in Global Eye Health at GOS 2024 Learn how gender impacts working in global eye health at GOS 2024 - see you there on August 10th at 7am PST

Here are some more photos of the Flying Eye Hospital touching down in stormy conditions yesterday, Thursday, August 1.

We'd like to say huge thank you to our corporate sponsors the Alcon Foundation, FedEx and OMEGA Watches—and our project partner, the Mongolian Ministry of Health.

Keep an eye out for more updates coming soon. 👀✈

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has just landed in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for a three-week ophthalmic training project. ✈👀🇲🇳

The plane touched down in stormy conditions, with Captain Cyndhi Berwyn calling it “one of the toughest approaches” in her long career.

Ulaanbaatar is notorious for its high altitude and strong winds, but the team also faced storms, turbulence, and low visibility as they made their descent. Captain Berwyn was given up-to-the-minute information by the Orbis flight team and was able to guide the plane without issue.

While the weather might seem ominous, a former Orbis patient from Mongolia and current Orbis Canada Board Member, Bulgan Orgilsaikhan, who was on board the aircraft as it landed, says there’s an expression in Mongolian that goes, “The destined person comes with the thunderstorm.” A sign of good things to come!

This three-week training project will mark the Flying Eye Hospital’s ninth visit to Mongolia, with the first taking place in 1989 and most recent in 2018.

Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.

As we celebrate the official launch of our diabetic retinopathy screening project in Vietnam, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Amazon Web Services (AWS) for supporting AI-led screenings to improve diabetic eye care. 💻👀✨

Orbis was selected as a winner of the 2023 AWS IMAGINE Grant, awarded to nonprofits using tech to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.

Early detection and intervention are key to saving sight for millions of people with diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults. But efforts are often hampered by a shortage of trained staff and limited access to eye services for patients in hard-to-reach communities. This is where AI screenings can bridge that gap.

Thanks to the generous AWS grant, we’re working with Amazon’s cloud computing arm to boost access to AI-assisted eye screenings powered by our bespoke tool, Cybersight AI. Cybersight AI can detect diabetic retinopathy in seconds, eliminating the long wait for screening results that rely on human graders, and improving timely referral and access to follow-up care. 🙏

Cybersight hits 100,000 users!

Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, which marked its 20th anniversary last year, saw a surge in its userbase at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20,000 in February 2020 to 100,000 as of July 2024.

Continued growth following the pandemic shows the demand for virtual learning and mentorship in eye care around the world is just as high as ever.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Orbis community for helping grow Cybersight into the platform it is today. From our Volunteer Faculty who give up their free time to deliver online webinars and consult on complex cases, to the dedicated eye care professionals around the world who use it to improve the quality of the care they provide, and of course our wonderful supporters – together we’re helping change the way the world sees.

Check out these photos from the recent Standing Strong, Sharing Space and Shaping Solutions event held by Women Leaders in Eye Health and the African Ophthalmology Council (AOC) in Kigali, Rwanda.

The one hour breakfast session, moderated by our Medical Advisor Dr. Ciku Mathenge, included a panel of motivating speakers and discussions to find solutions to challenges for women in eye health.

We want to thank everyone in the Orbis community who's helping promote gender equity in eye care, especially our partners SEVA FOUNDATION and Women in Ophthalmology. 👏💙

We’re excited to announce the official start of our AI-assisted diabetic retinopathy (DR) project in Vietnam, which aims to screen around 72,000 patients with diabetes over the next three years. 👀✨🔬

We’d like to say a huge thank you to NIDEK Global for donating six specialized cameras to support the project.

DR screening requires specialized equipment known as a fundus camera that is able to take high quality pictures of the back of the eye. NIDEK’s generous donation of six fundus cameras, used in conjunction with Orbis’s bespoke AI tool, Cybersight AI, will help people living with diabetes access specialized screening at six health facilities in three provinces, providing crucial early diagnosis and treatment.

The project will help tackle the growing threat of DR in Vietnam, where around 7 million people are estimated to have diabetes—a number expected to increase five-fold by 2030. Everyone with diabetes is at risk of developing the potentially blinding eye condition without early detection and treatment.

Cybersight AI can detect DR in seconds and means images do not need to be sent off to expert graders, a process which can take days or even weeks, greatly reducing the prospect of follow-up care.

Once again, a huge thank you to NIDEK for not only donating the cameras but also supporting vital in-person training and online continuing education to around 500 eye health professionals via our Cybersight platform. 🙏🙏🙏

Women Leaders in Eye Health together with the African Ophthalmology Council (AOC) will host Standing Strong, Sharing Space and Shaping Solutions on Saturday July 28 7:00-8:00am in Kigali.

Featuring a panel of motivating speakers and meaningful discussions, eye care professionals can support each other, share experiences, and work towards finding solutions to shared challenges as women in eye health.

The one-hour breakfast session will be moderated by our very own superstar Dr. Ciku Mathenge, Medical Advisor, Orbis International. As the first female leader of the AOC, Dr. Mathenge is tasked with delivering on their ambitious goal of improving access to eye care in Sub Saharan Africa.

Facing the challenges for women in the eye care sector will ultimately help improve the quality of eye care services for women and girls in communities all around the world.

A big thank you to our supporters for backing our call for gender equity in eye health, and to our partners SEVA FOUNDATION and Women in Ophthalmology .

Learn more about the event or sign up here 👇

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/standing-strong-sharing-space-and-shaping-solutions-at-aoc-2024-tickets-923098431257

Here at Orbis we’re using state-of-the-art technology such as VR and AI to improve eye care around the world. But we know that innovation means finding the best way to solve a problem, which can sometimes mean finding low-tech solutions. 💡👀

Orbis-trained Community Health Worker “Mum” is dedicated to improving eye health in her community — walking several kilometers a day to spread the word about the importance of healthy vision.

She first turned her passion for eye care into a reality following a talk at church a few years ago. In her village in the Copperbelt Province, myths and lack of knowledge can put locals off getting formal medical care.

Mum was part of a one-year Orbis pilot project using low-cost mobile technology like basic cell phones to help train Community Health Workers, coordinate eye care efforts, and increase the number of patients accessing eye health services.

With the help of regular training via cell phone, she’s in a better position to educate communities about all eye-related things and refers anyone she meets with conditions like little Mapolo (pictured) for screening at the Masaiti District Hospital.

She even takes people with poor vision and no means of transport to the local hospital herself, on her bike. Mum shared: “I used to see so many people resort to medication which didn’t even heal the eye. When I attended health training from Orbis it gave me an opportunity to teach people the right thing to do when they have an eye condition.”

Mum’s passion for helping build a brighter future for her community is inspiring! We’d love to thank her, and our wonderful supporters and partners, for helping provide quality eye care to so many families in Zambia! 🙏🇿🇲🔆👀

With on Sunday, we thought this was the perfect time to share the story of dedicated Dad, Jemal, who helped save his four children’s eyesight. 💙

Jemal, a loving father of four, lives in a rural village in Ethiopia. When an Orbis health worker arrived in his community, they found all four of his children showed active signs of trachoma, a painful eye infection that can lead to blindness if not treated.

But thanks to your support, Jemal and his family received the care they needed. An Orbis-trained health worker treated each child with ointment for their infection and taught Jemal how to apply the medicine for the future.

“I am happy with today’s visit to the village to give medicine,” he tells us. “I spoke to the health worker who advised me on how to apply the eye ointment for my children.”

“Thank you for coming to this village today,” he continued, “and for this medication which will help my family.”

Because of your generosity, this dedicated father of four can protect his children’s vision for the future, giving them an opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for everything you do, and to those celebrating, we wish you a happy Father’s Day.

💙💙💙💙