The beloved humorous science writer spotlights Orbis’s sight-saving work in Chapter 11 of Replaceable You, “The Mongolian Eyeball”
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Orbis International is honored to be featured in bestselling science writer Mary Roach’s highly anticipated new book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy (W. W. Norton & Company), released today. In her trademark style—where humor meets rigorous research—Roach dedicates Chapter 11, “The Mongolian Eyeball,” to her travels with Orbis in Mongolia, where she observed cataract surgeries in one of the most remote places on earth.
In Replaceable You, New York Times-bestselling author Mary Roach explores the wonders of human anatomy—and shines a spotlight on Orbis’s work restoring sight in Mongolia and around the world.
Cataracts—the clouding of the eye’s natural lens and the leading cause of blindness worldwide—are the focus of one of the book’s 17 chapters on replaceable body parts. In modern cataract surgery, an artificial intraocular lens replaces the clouded lens.
In the chapter, Roach brings readers into the world of Orbis’s mission to prevent avoidable blindness and restore sight in low- and middle-income countries. With wit and curiosity, she explores Orbis’s approach while on a road trip through the Mongolian countryside to visit programs that train local doctors to perform safe and effective cataract surgery. On her journey, she spotlights the life-changing impact of quality eye care on patients, their families, and their communities.
Replaceable You continues Roach’s tradition of weaving humor, humanity, and science into compelling narratives that makes the reader think and laugh at the same time. She sparks curiosity about the history of cataract surgery while detailing the current global eye care challenges—from limited access to care and training to the technology that makes it all possible. In this chapter, Roach makes the reader laugh by comparing cataract surgery to a live birth, includes fascinating nuggets of trivia about eyeballs (“Rhinos are myopic”), describes her encounters with rural Mongolian life, and so much more.
Throughout the chapter, Roach introduces readers to a wide range of individuals connected to Orbis: patients whose sight has been restored, doctors trained through Orbis programs, local staff who make the work possible, and leaders guiding efforts to end avoidable blindness and vision loss.
“To spend a week with the people from Orbis International was such a treat and a privilege—their commitment and enthusiasm are so obvious, and they so believe in what they do,” said Roach. “What most people don’t realize is that Orbis isn’t about a brief visit to do surgeries; it’s about teaching. They train surgeons so that they can treat the whole community. In that ‘teach a man to fish’ sense, it’s so much more impactful to give someone skills. Think of all the people who will now be able see.”
“Mary Roach has an extraordinary gift for making science both entertaining and accessible, and we’re thrilled that she chose to highlight cataract surgery and Orbis’s work in her latest book,” said Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Orbis Vice President of Clinical Services and Technology, who accompanied Roach in Mongolia and is featured in the book. “Her writing shines a light on the urgent need for eye care around the world while capturing the compassion and commitment of the people working toward that cause.”
About Orbis International
Orbis International works around the world to prevent blindness and restore sight for children and adults in places where eye care is out of reach—so vision problems don’t make it harder to learn, earn a living, or enjoy life. Around 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, but with the right care, 90% of it is completely avoidable. That is why Orbis trains doctors, nurses, and other eye care professionals to provide care in their own communities—and works to make sure people of all ages can access the eye exams, glasses, medicine, and surgeries they need to protect and restore their sight. Orbis began this work more than 40 years ago with the Flying Eye Hospital, a teaching hospital on a plane that brings expert training and care where they’re needed most. Today, we also work with local hospitals and clinics across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to make eye care available to more people, and we use and develop technology—like our award-winning Cybersight e-learning and telehealth platform, artificial intelligence screening, and virtual reality training—to help eye care teams treat patients more effectively. Orbis ranks in the top 3% of U.S. charities, having earned top marks for transparency and accountability from Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau. To learn more, please visit orbis.org.
Media Contacts
Orbis International
Jenna Montgomery
Associate Director, Global Communications and Marketing
[email protected]
SOURCE Orbis International
