In 2002, ORBIS International initiated Cyber-Sight®, a telemedicine program providing ophthalmologists in developing countries the opportunity to connect with expert mentors through the Internet.

What started as a simple sequence of e-mail communications during a 1998 ORBIS program in Havana, Cuba, now makes it possible for ophthalmology professionals in developing countries to benefit from the knowledge and experience of ORBIS volunteer faculty whenever the need arises.

Cyber-Sight establishes an "extended presence," enabling ORBIS to further transfer knowledge outside the parameters of the Flying Eye Hospital or a hospital-based program. ORBIS volunteer medical faculty offer online assistance to local doctors in diagnosing and treating patients while giving them the opportunity to grow in skills and confidence.

Program components

Cyber-Sight has three distinctive program components to aid blindness prevention:

• E-Consultation links partners with expert mentors for the purpose of patient consultation on all cases, including pediatric ophthalmology.
  
  
• E-Resources provides convenient access to ophthalmology educational resources and materials geared to any eye care provider worldwide.
  
  
• E-Learning allows enrolled doctors to take tests covering basic ophthalmic material while earning continuing medical education credit.

How Cyber-Sight works

Through the Cyber-Sight website, eye care professionals in developing countries transmit patient data and digital images to ORBIS volunteer doctors for assistance with diagnosis and discussion of case management. Volunteer faculty respond to queries electronically in a timely manner, entering into a dialog with partners. By 2008, more than 4,800 e-consults had taken place through ORBIS's telemedicine program.

To learn more about Cyber-Sight or to participate, click here.