Orbis International has committed an estimated US$32 million in funding and technical support between 2027 and 2030 to expand access to eye care. The charity aims to contribute to better eye health outcomes for more than 18 million people and support the professional development of over 250,000 eye health professionals.
The announcement was made in connection with the first Global Summit for Eye Health, hosted by Antigua and Barbuda’s government in technical collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The programme will directly support government-led systems and institutions in 16 countries. Its clinical priorities are cataract, diabetic retinopathy, childhood eye health and refractive error.
US$17 million of the total commitment is allocated to cataract care, including surgical training and local service capacity. Partners, including Alcon, will support training through clinical practice, simulation and mentorship.
Cybersight, Orbis’s digital platform, will help deliver learning and clinical support. This gives the workforce commitment a practical route beyond individual training visits: professionals can continue accessing guidance as they apply skills within their own services.
For ophthalmology teams, the connection between training and day-to-day delivery matters. A learning programme needs to account for the equipment clinicians use, the patients they see, and the support available when a difficult case arises.
From 2027, Orbis and Antigua and Barbuda’s government plan to integrate AI-assisted diabetic retinopathy screening into routine diabetes care. Their target is at least 80% screening coverage among people receiving diabetes care by 2030, with referral and treatment pathways.
That link to follow-up care is essential to understanding the plan. Screening identifies people who may need further assessment; services also need a way to get those patients to the appropriate clinical team.
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