Orbis conducts vision screening for a Nepalese schoolgirl.
Photo courtesy of Louis Leeson, for Orbis		 
BANGKOK—Hoya Vision Care has announced a partnership with Orbis International, the global organization that mentors, trains, and inspires local eyecare professionals to save sight in their communities. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in Hoya’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which is aimed at bridging the vision care gap around the world. “Our partnership with Orbis is an excellent first step to implement Hoya’s social vision and enact genuine, positive change for vision care around the world,” said Alexandre Montague, CEO of Hoya Vision Care.

“We hope that together we can go beyond solving short-term vision issues and make a long-term impact globally. At Hoya, we have the ability and responsibility to make a difference.”

Hoya will support Orbis International in its mission to address vision inequality by promoting eyecare services, providing communities across the world with access to sight-saving interventions, and increasing eye-health literacy and education. Among the initiatives supported is the REACH (Refractive Error Among Children) program.
 
With REACH, Orbis enables students’ access to in-school vision care by working with partner hospitals to train teachers to perform basic eye examinations. The program, based in India and Nepal, has an emphasis on helping girls, who are less likely to seek care.

Additionally, Hoya will contribute knowledge to Orbis’s online learning platform, Cybersight. The platform aims to increase eye health skills and enable eyecare professionals (ECPs) in low- and middle-income countries to treat and prevent blindness and visual impairment.

“We are excited to benefit from the knowledge of Hoya’s employees and eyecare professionals which will help raise greater awareness about vision inequality in communities around the world. We hope that, together, we can make a larger impact than ever before,” said Derek Hodkey, president and CEO of Orbis International.

Hoya Vision Care said it will continue to roll out its CSR initiatives over the months ahead, partnering around the world with key eyecare organizations focused on bridging the vision care gap and bringing about tangible change.