Sometimes, the help you need really does come down from the heavens and just because you might not see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Since 1982, ORBIS – a global non-profit organization that fights blindness in developing countries – has been operating the world’s first and only flying eye hospital. A product of the visionary idea of Dr. David Paton of the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and the kind donation and collaboration of United Airlines, the ORBIS DC-10 jet boasts charter visits to over 75 developing countries, where 90% of the blind reside.

Like the more recent mobile banking initiatives, ORBIS has long since come to the realization that they cannot afford  to wait for the proper infrastructure to be put into place. They need to deliver their services fast if they want to help people now and so they have to do it any way they can. ORBIS’ answer was a flying eye hospital that is capable of existing on self-sufficiency for weeks on end in remote regions of the world.

The wing space of the plane has been converted into an operating room and the first class lounge is now a classroom space for local ophthalmologists. Also included are a waiting room, a laser eye treatment space, and a recovery room, complete with teddy bears and delicious snacks for children. With the help of 21 crew members that range from doctors, nurses and biomedical engineers and flight mechanics, the ORBIS jet performs all kinds of eye surgery and educates the local community. Native doctors can sit in the classroom and watch the surgery live on camera and complete a series of ten lectures on the various eye diseases and quality care initiatives. Through education, equipment provision, and compassion, ORBIS is taking on the statistic that over 80% of the world’s blindness can be prevented or treated by access to quality care.

It is not an easy endeavor either. Crew members only receive two months off every year to be at home with their families, but they say the sacrifice is worth it every time they see a child’s eyesight restored. Marveling at the accomplishments and dedication of the ORBIS flying eye hospital, I am reminded of a conversation that I had with my own eye doctor many years ago.

“The best part of being an eye doctor,” he explained to me, “is the instant gratification. If you’re a family physician, somebody comes in and tells you they feel sick or their stomach hurts. You check them over, prescribe some medication, and then tell them to come back in two weeks if they are still having problems. Usually, you don’t hear from them again if they get better. But when you’re an eye doctor, the minute you fit someone for their first pair of glasses, you’ve instantly provided the cure. You can watch their whole face light up and immediately share in their joy of seeing for the first time. There’s nothing quite like that.”

In any case, ORBIS’ flying eye hospital takes the literal meaning from Gandhi’s adage: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

ORBIS is dedicated to fighting blindness in developing countries, where 90% of the blind reside.

• Organizatio n Type: Non-Profit
• Website: http://www.orbis.org/
• Founder(s): Dr. David Paton
• Founded: 1982
• Location: New York, NY headquarters and many branches worldwide. See website for details.
• See complete company list here

Contributor Profile: Ashley

Ashley is a friend of anyone who is fighting the good fight for social change. She currently resides in Bilbao, Spain where she is teaching English and researching the history of the Basque conflict. Personal blog
Twitter: @socialearth

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