Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Begins 2-Week Training Project to Improve Eye Care Across Rwanda

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital landed in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 18, 2025, marking the beginning of a historic 2-week training project. It marks the first time this aircraft has visited Rwanda, where Orbis' teams of clinical staff and volunteer faculty will work alongside the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) at its partner hospital, Kibagabaga Hospital.

Over the weekend, the Flying Eye Hospital team transformed the plane into a fully functioning ophthalmic teaching facility, equipped to train local doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and biomedical engineers in the latest techniques in eye care.

Week one, sponsored by the Alcon Foundation, kicked off on Monday, July 21, with a focus on simulation-based learning, giving doctors an opportunity to safely practice complex surgical skills. Local teams are using virtual reality (VR) tools developed by Orbis in partnership with FundramentalVR, to deepen their skills in two types of cataract surgery: manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and phacoemulsification. When the project finishes, the VR tools will be donated to RIIO so future generations of ophthalmologists can continue to hone their technique in a safe environment.

With just 30 ophthalmologists serving a population of over 13 million in Rwanda, this sight-saving training more vital than ever. And with the skills built up during week one of the project, participating eye teams are more than ready to continue into week two.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Alcon Foundation, our title sponsor for week 1, whose long-standing partnership has made this life-changing work possible. From donating essential supplies through Alcon Cares, to providing critical funding through the Alcon Foundation, their support helps power these projects," Orbis stated in a news release.