WelcomePack

Over 65 million people are visually impaired or blind because of cataracts. Yet, for many people in low- and middle-income countries, a straightforward, 20-minute operation is not available. Either because they live too far from a hospital or because they can’t afford the procedure.Now you’ve signed up to CatarAction by Orbis, you will help bring quality eye care closer to more people, no matter where they live. Thank you.One of the most critical issues in global eye health is the lack of an adequately trained workforce. Our expert medical volunteers give up their free time to share their skills and knowledge to help improve the quality of patient care and ensure more people can see.

Cataract is the world’s leading cause of blindness

In 2019 alone Orbis deployed 144 medical volunteers to train local eye care teams on our Flying Eye Hospital, a state-of-the-art ophthalmic teaching hospital on board a converted aircraft, and in local hospitals. Many cataract operations take place during these training programmes. Operations also take place in our partner hospitals as part of longer-term programmes. They are often performed by surgeons who have received training from Orbis volunteers and who go on to perform thousands of surgeries, long after our volunteers have left.

A cataract operation can cost as little as £20. But the gift of restoring somebody’s sight, to give them back their freedom and independence, is absolutely priceless!In many parts of the world, developing a cataract in one or both eyes can have devastating consequences. For children a lack of sight can mean a lack of education, limiting their opportunities for the future. And sight loss can prevent adults from earning an income, often forcing them to become dependent on others for even the simplest of tasks.But, thanks to you, it doesn’t have to be that way. Clear sight opens up a future of possibilities. Your donations will help children return to school and adults return to work - so they can contribute to society and break the cycle of poverty.

Saving sight, transforming lives

Throughout the year we will send you stories

about the people you have helped, like

Vaishnavi who you can read about

overleaf.

When little Vaishnavi, from India, was diagnosed with a cataract at the age of five her dad, San, knew she needed treatment quickly before she lost her sight permanently. But the local doctor wasn’t able to perform surgery. So Vaishnavi and San travelled 150km to Orbis’s Partner Hospital, Akhand Jyoti Eye Institute, where Orbis volunteers were running a training programme.On the day of her surgery, Vaishnavi wore her favourite dress and was smiling at everyone around her. With the guidance of Orbis volunteer Dr Suh, Vaishnavi’s cataract was successfully removed by Dr Faizy from Akhand Jyoti.After the surgery, with a patch on her eye, Vaishnavi was bravely smiling again. When the patch was removed, her father put his hand over her good eye and asked if she could see through the one that had just been operated on – and she could!

Thank you for giving the gift of sight to people like Vaishnavi

Your donations will help fund the battle against cataracts and Orbis’s other sight-saving work wherever it is needed the most. At least 80% of all the money we raise in the UK goes towards the fight against avoidable blindness and the rest helps to raise further funds to make sure the fight can continue in the future.

How are my donations spent?

Tackling avoidable blindness takes a comprehensive approach. The best way to make sure that people with cataracts can get the treatment they need is to address the eye care needs of their whole community and country.

Your donations could help fund cataract operations while also strengthening and improving services to make sure everyone has access to quality eye care, wherever they are and whatever their condition.

We’re so grateful that you’ve chosen to join with us in saving as many people as possible from a life of unnecessary blindness. You can be sure that supporting CatarAction by Orbis makes the

biggest possible difference by

At least 80% of all the

money we raise in the UK goes towards

the fight against avoidable blindness

driving change at the local and national level - making improvements for people with cataracts, as well as people in their wider community, and beyond.

San wants his daughter to do well at school and knows that sight loss may have held her back. But now Vaishnavi can look forward to a brighter future. Although, for the time being, she is happy just to return to her favourite hobby – digging in the ground and helping her mother with the gardening.Thank you for signing up to CatarAction by Orbis and pledging to help more people like Vaishnavi who are losing their sight because of cataracts.

We’ll send you three updates a year - in Spring, Summer and Autumn – to show you that your money is being used where it’s needed most. We’ll send you stories about people who have been treated for cataracts and tell you more about the work of our amazing medical volunteers. You will receive the updates by post, and by email if you have chosen to hear from us that way. If you would prefer to go paperless and only hear from us by email, please let us know by contacting us, using the details on the next page.From time to time, we may also like to send you information about our wider work through newsletters and fundraising appeals. Please do get in touch to let us know if you would prefer not to receive this.

What updates will I receive by supporting CatarAction by Orbis and how will I receive the regular updates? How much does it cost to sign up to

CatarAction by Orbis?We ask for a donation of £10 a month which, over a year, represents the cost of six cataract operations for adults. However, if at any point you would like to change the amount you give, please feel free to contact us. Whatever you choose to give, a regular contribution can help achieve lasting results for people all over the world who are experiencing sight loss.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll keep you

updated on how your CatarAction

donations are saving sight

How do cataract patients benefi t from my support?Giving people the gift of sight has a huge impact, not just on their well-being but their future prospects. Your regular contributions will help provide independence and freedom for people who are currently facing a lifetime of avoidable blindness – surely there is no greater gift than that! Thank you.

I have more questions. Who can I speak to?

We’d love to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch by contacting our supporter care team: Call: 020 7608 7269 Email: icare@orbis.org.uk

We’d love to hear from

you! Please don’t hesitate to get in

touch

With few eye doctors, hospitals or clinics, your chances of getting good care are small. As your sight gets worse, your chances of getting an education or earning a steady income become harder and you risk becoming blind for life.By signing up to CatarAction by Orbis, you’re going to help change that.75% of sight loss can be cured or prevented, meaning that more than

Imagine losing your sight in one of the poorest regions in the world.Where would you turn for help?

Global blindness is set to increase signifi cantly unless we act now. Thank you for taking the fi rst step to help avoid this situation. You are a hero to people experiencing sight loss.

190 million people who are blind or visually impaired don’t need to be. Thank you for joining the mission to eliminate avoidable blindness.Most people who are blind or visually impaired live in developing countries. Older people, women and people living in rural and disadvantaged communities are particularly aff ected. So Orbis focuses on where the need is greatest: in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Registered charity no. 1061352 www.orbis.org.uk | 020 7608 7269 | icare@orbis.org.ukOrbis UK, Sixth Floor, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AF