World Sight Day with FedEx & Orbis

Today is World Sight Day, and we’re taking a closer look at our relationship with Orbis International ,the global nonprofit whose mission is to raise awareness of the importance of pediatric eyecare around the world.

FedEx is proud to sponsor the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, also known as a classroom in the sky. It’s the world’s only fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital onboard an MD-10 aircraft, which we were able to donate.

Gearing up for one of the Flying Eye Hospital projects requires sending lots of supplies and materials to the plane to prepare for flight, training, and surgeries. We provided Orbis with free shipping for their recent Flying Eye Hospital training program in Mongolia, where ophthalmic resources are limited. During the project, local eye teams built their skills using simulation training, hands-on surgical training, and patient care.

One of the patients who was treated on the Flying Eye Hospital was three-year-old Buyandeleger. While her mother thought her vision issue results were the result of brain damage suffered during a difficult pregnancy, a screening by an Orbis training participant showed her problem was instead congenital cataract (clouding of the lens) in her right eye. Buyandeleger boarded the airplane, where she underwent surgery and left able to see clearly.

We’re proud of our more than 30 years of support for Orbis and their mission to catch issues early and keep children’s eyes healthy.

Hear more from Director of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, Maurice Geary .