Eye Care by Air

This unique DC-10 is the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. From the Orbis website:

As a nonprofit organization, ORBIS International strives to eliminate avoidable blindness and restore sight in the developing world, where 90% of the world’s blind live.

At the heart of ORBIS's sight-saving work is the Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10 aircraft converted into a state-of-the-art teaching facility.

The Flying Eye Hospital carries a laser treatment facility and an operating room where doctors participate in surgeries performed by our volunteer surgeons. These operations are broadcast both to the on-board classroom and to remote conference rooms attended by local doctors eager to enhance their skills.

This unique aircraft is flown by volunteer pilots to developing countries, where the 25-member ORBIS medical team and visiting volunteer doctors perform surgeries in order to train local ophthalmologists. In addition to our surgical work on the aircraft, ORBIS also conducts nursing, biomedical engineering and system support training.

While in Canada, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital will make scheduled stops in Toronto and Ottawa. In each city, the DC-10 aircraft will be open for tours where there will be an opportunity to see its state-of-the-art surgical facilities, meet the dedicated crew, and mingle with Canadian volunteer medical professionals who are actively contributing to ORBIS Canada's dream of bringing vision to the world.

TAGS: Orbis, Flying Eye Hospital, eyes