ORBIS UK

Orbis UK is an affiliate of Orbis International, a global charity that brings people together to fight avoidable blindness. With a network of partners, we mentor and train local teams, providing them with the tools to reduce blindness in their own communities. We believe that no one should live a life of unnecessary blindness, simply because of where they are located.

Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritisation of eye health on public health agendas.

Globally, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss and 90% of is avoidable. Existing prevention and treatment methods – such as surgeries, antibiotics, and glasses – could restore sight to millions of children and adults around the world. Ninety percent of those with vision loss are located in low and middle income countries. Eliminating avoidable blindness is one of the most effective ways of fighting poverty. For every £1 spent on restoring vision, more than £4 is returned to the local economy.

Orbis supporters are the backbone of the organisation, from individual givers to statutory funders, and they enable us to build programmes that strive for sustainable results that are tailored to needs of each location. With their help we’ve been tackling avoidable blindness for 40 years.