Orbis International Releases the First-Ever Eye Care Simulation Manual

Which is why, this World Sight Day, we are proud to announce the release of our Simulation Center Manual, a new guide for training hospitals and teaching institutions looking to create and run their own ophthalmic simulation centers and training programs. Like all Orbis resources, the manual is free, so that eye care professionals in low- and middle-income countries – where vision impairment is four times greater than in high-income regions – can benefit from it.

When eye care professionals get the training they need, patients get the quality eye care they deserve. But the need for social distancing has disrupted traditional in-person eye care training like never before. Despite these challenges, cutting-edge innovations like simulation are getting the next generation of eye care professionals ready to take on their sight-saving work.

As innovators in medicine, we are always looking for the newest technology to counter the threat of avoidable blindness. In the past year, thanks to supporters like you, we have introduced artificial intelligence into Cybersight to help detect common eye diseases. We have partnered with FundementalVR to create a virtual reality training platform that will allow ophthalmology students to practice procedures on their own. And now, we are releasing the first-ever Simulation Center Manual, the next step in our effort to bring eye care training to the future.

Experts have predicted that global blindness will triple by the year 2050, but the number of people requiring eye care is already outpacing the number of trained ophthalmologists. And with the global pandemic, in-person ophthalmic training has been reduced due to the need for social distancing, forcing institutions to turn toward innovation and technology for eye health professionals to gain surgical skills. Simulation training can help fill this gap.

Simulation devices – like virtual reality, artificial eyes, and life-like manikins – let complex procedures be broken down into smaller parts, letting doctors practice each step as many times as they need, something you can't do with an actual patient.

Despite the growing need for eye care simulation training, many institutions lack guidance on developing and supporting facilities, educational materials, and programs. But, the high price point of cutting-edge technology often keeps it out of reach for those who need them most. This manual, though, helps hospitals and teaching institutions overcome this barrier by providing recommendations that take into account a range of budget and training needs.

The new Simulation Center Manual is the culmination of our experience delivering simulation training to thousands of eye care professionals around the globe and supporting partners as they integrated simulation training into their programs.

Your support has powered the virtual technology and pioneering solutions that have kept our fight against avoidable blindness going strong, even amid a global pandemic. We want to graciously thank all of our supporters for helping us develop and implement these new technologies so that eye care workers everywhere have access to the best training available.