Project Orbis

I was privileged to attend "A Night Out for Orbis" on June 2, in the city of Victorville, California, and tour the Project Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, courtesy of my friend Dr. William Basuk.

Project Orbis is unique among world charities. They have an eye hospital within a DC-10 airplane. They fly around the world and teach local doctors eye surgical techniques. Unlike most eye charities which may perform a few surgeries and then leave a country, Orbis cures blindness by teaching eye surgeons around the world, who in turn teach other doctors and perform countless sight-saving surgeries among their people.

The city of Victorville, California, has adopted Project Orbis as its charity. The Orbis DC-10 undergoes annual maintenance at the Southern California Logistics Airport and while there the local Spring Valley Lake Lions Club hosted a gala fund-raising dinner. Dr. Basuk spoke at the dinner about his experiences teaching corneal transplant surgery with Project Orbis.

If you would like to learn more about this fascinating and inspiring organization, please visit the Orbis website.

photo: blake shaw photography