FedEx and Orbis: Fighting Blindness Side-by-Side for More Than 30 Years

As the Director of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, Maurice Geary is responsible for the smooth running of every Flying Eye Hospital project, working closely with all members of the team from the flight mechanics to the staff nurses. Maurice ensures that local eye care professionals get the training they deserve, with state-of-the-art equipment, like laser and simulation.

Thursday October 14th is World Sight Day 2021, the most important day in the eye health calendar. This year, we’re asking our supporters, partners and friends to show their eyes some love. If you don't take good care of your eyes or have access to quality eye care, you could lose your vision from preventable causes. Healthy eyesight brings better prospects for education, employment & social life no matter where you live.

We know that FedEx, and its amazing employees, care very much about vision. You show Orbis the love all year round, and because of that you also show love to thousands of families around the world who can now access the type of eye care they deserve.

Right now there is a Virtual Flying Eye Hospital project happening in China, thanks in large part to FedEx. The five-week project is helping build the skills of our Chinese eye health partners so they can identify, manage and treat eye disease through live lectures. The courses are led by our wonderful volunteer faculty –leading eye health professionals. Follow Orbis on LinkedIn or Facebook to get updates on this exciting project.

Of course the Flying Eye Hospital is still unable to fly due the ongoing pandemic, which is why this is all delivered virtually. Thankfully we’ve got a long history of innovation to lean on. We’ve been pioneering telemedicine since the early days of the internet. Our award-winning platform, Cybersight, now has over 50,000 registered users and delivers online courses, live lectures, distance mentorship, diagnostic support and even live surgeries. So while the world went into lockdown, our teams were primed and ready to pivot.

Our history of innovation dates back to our very first Flying Eye Hospital in 1982 and is only possible because of sponsors like FedEx. FedEx and Orbis have been fighting blindness side-by-side for more than 30 years. FedEx is the leading sponsor of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, with FedEx even donating the plane itself.

Without FedEx donations of critically needed aircraft maintenance and overnight delivery services, the Flying Eye Hospital could not fly and vital supplies could not be delivered. FedEx provides employee support, availability for volunteer pilots, aircraft maintenance, a fellowship program and many other benefits.

Thank you for your support this World Sight Day. Be sure to keep an eye out for our Public Service Announcement, “See What You’d Miss,” airing nationally throughout October.

And please don’t forget to show your eyes some love this World Sight Day.

Watch and share this video to find out more (+ link to WSD page). 

***Photos provided by Orbis