The world's only fully-equipped teaching hospital on a plane travels around the world restoring sight – see what it's like onboard

Orbis

Many people consider a visit to the eye-doctor a necessary chore. But for the 253 million people around the world who are blind or visually impaired, a single visit to an ophthalmologist can mean a second chance at life. 

That's where The Flying Eye Hospital Comes in. The MD-10 is the only fully equipped and accredited teaching hospital on a plane in the world. 

It is part operating room, part classroom, and part eye health advocate. The plane travels around the world to low-income locations, bringing world-class training to local doctors and performing eye exams and surgeries on those in need. 

"There are few things in life better than seeing somebody be able to see who hasn't been able to for awhile or never has, to see a mothers face light up when she sees her husband or her children. You can't put it in words," said Orbis CEO Bob Ranck.

Hre's what's it like aboard the plane.

Orbis works with a network of over 400 volunteers in 30 countries. All are full-time medical professionals, and spend their vacation going on trips with the Flying Eye.

Antonio Jaramillo is a doctor from Columbia who has been working with Orbis for the past three years.

“Working with local doctors who are so interested in what they are learning, you see you are making a difference, because you know they are going to be continuing on when you're gone,” he said.

The plane's operating facilities and medical instruments are designed as movable modules, and are shipped from location to location.