Orbis and Heidelberg Engineering Announce Partnership at ESCRS Congress
On September 8, Orbis announced a groundbreaking partnership program with Heidelberg Engineering during the 41st European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) annual meeting. This partnership, announced through a press release, marks a significant step forward in addressing global eye health issues.
The collaboration's central focus is on leveraging Orbis's cutting-edge e-learning and telemedicine platform, Cybersight, to provide comprehensive training for eyecare professionals worldwide. By harnessing the power of Cybersight, this alliance aims to equip eyecare professionals with advanced knowledge and skills to better serve their communities.
Orbis's global mission revolves around serving the vast majority of individuals suffering from vision loss and blindness, with a startling statistic revealing that 90% of the 1.1 billion affected individuals reside in low- or middle-income countries. This partnership with Heidelberg Engineering holds the potential to bridge the knowledge gap and enhance eyecare services for those in underserved regions.
Heidelberg Engineering, a renowned leader in imaging and healthcare technology, will play a pivotal role in this endeavor by supporting live webinars via the Heidelberg Engineering Academy. These webinars will delve into crucial topics such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and related imaging technologies, further advancing the expertise of eyecare professionals.
However, the collaboration doesn't stop at education and training. Heidelberg Engineering is committed to funding groundbreaking research on retinoblastoma, a rare retinal cancer that primarily afflicts pediatric patients. Every year, approximately 9,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with this aggressive disease, the majority of whom are under the age of 5. Astonishingly, 92% of these children are located in low- and middle-income countries.
The survival rate for retinoblastoma remains a distressing challenge, standing at a mere 40% within 3 years of diagnosis. Orbis and Heidelberg Engineering are resolute in their determination to overcome the barriers contributing to this dire statistic, such as late diagnosis, limited access to eye care, and inadequate resources.
Hunter Cherwek, MD, Vice President of Clinical Services & Technologies at Orbis International, expressed profound enthusiasm about this collaborative effort, stating, "Orbis is delighted to be partnering with Heidelberg Engineering. Retinoblastoma outcomes for children in low- and middle-income countries could be significantly improved with earlier diagnosis and enhanced treatment."
Cherwek went on to say, "As a global leader in imaging and healthcare technology, Heidelberg Engineering's generous contribution and partnership will mean we can both offer enhanced knowledge for eye care practitioners via Cybersight and pioneer new research that will help improve outcomes for children facing retinoblastoma across the world."
