NEW YORK—Orbis International announces its renewed partnership with Swiss watchmaker Omega, providing the organization with $2.5 million over the next five years. This support will bolster Orbis’ work to train eyecare teams in areas with the greatest need. Omega has been a supporter of Orbis since 2011, when it became a Global Corporate Partner. Through support of the Flying Eye Hospital, Omega has helped Orbis mentor, train and inspire local teams, the announcement said.

Omega also works with its brand ambassadors including Daniel Craig, Cindy Crawford and others, to increase awareness of Orbis and its mission. In two documentaries, Craig and Crawford participated in Orbis programming in Mongolia and Peru respectively. Additionally, Omega provides teddy bears to all young patients undergoing treatment on the Flying Eye Hospital.
 
Derek Hodkey, president and CEO of Orbis International, said, “Around the world, some 1 billion people live with vision loss that is entirely preventable or treatable, but they simply don't have access to the care they need. Our work to create a world where no one loses their sight from avoidable causes is only possible because of generous supporters like Omega who believe in our mission, and we cannot overstate our gratitude for their longstanding partnership.”
 
Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega, said, “It's an honor to extend our partnership with this life-changing organisation. For more than a decade, Omega has been witnessing the incredible work of Orbis, who embrace our own values of innovation, pioneering spirit, and meaningful change. We look forward to continuing our support of this vital mission.”
 
Most recently, Omega was the title sponsor of a first-of-its-kind training project held on board the Flying Eye Hospital in Doha, Qatar, for women in eyecare from conflict-affected areas. Ophthalmologists from Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan. Syria and Yemen took part in simulation training using cutting-edge technology available on the Flying Eye Hospital. This simulation training ensures that each step normally taken when treating a patient can be safely practiced as many times as needed. The project, which was the first in-person training conducted internationally on the Flying Eye Hospital since the start of the pandemic, was launched under the leadership of Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Charity. Additional partners included Qatar Airways, Qatar Executive and Hamas International Airport, which provided on the ground support. 
 
Last year, Omega was also the title sponsor of a virtual Flying Eye Hospital project that trained ophthalmic nurses across Mongolia on treatment for cataracts, the leading cause of blindness in the country and globally. In 2020, Orbis reimagined in-person Flying Eye Hospital trainings as virtual ones to ensure that eyecare teams could still access critical training safely during the pandemic. With the plane now returning to in-person programming, the virtual model Orbis developed is being used in conjunction with in-person training.