In brief
David Paton, a remarkable 94-year-old ophthalmologist and founder of Project Orbis, known for transforming an airplane into a mobile hospital to fight preventable blindness globally, died on April 3 at his home in Reno, Nevada. His passing was confirmed by his son, Townley Paton.
Born to a distinguished New York eye surgeon, Dr. Paton's journey began at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the early '70s, where he became increasingly aware of the urgent need for eye care in rural and underserved areas. Frustrated by the rising number of patients suffering from avoidable blindness, he wrote in his memoir, "Second Sight: Views from an Eye Doctor’s Odyssey," that while more eye specialists were necessary, enhancing the education of existing doctors was equally vital.He initially considered sending medical supplies across the world like a traveling circus or deploying a floating hospital, but both ideas fell short of urgency. Inspired by the daring spirit of the lunar landing in 1969, he envisioned converting an aircraft into a state-of-the-art flying surgical suite.In the iconic spirit of innovation where big dreams can realize big changes, Dr. Paton's idea led to the establishment of the Flying Eye Hospital. This initiative became a vital resource, enabling medical professionals to operate on patients in distant regions while simultaneously training local doctors—an effort that has profoundly influenced eye care for countless individuals worldwide.Dr. Paton’s legacy lives on through the lives he changed and the inspiration he provided to countless healthcare professionals.
