ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Operation Sight is the ASCRS Foundation’s U.S.-based charitable cataract surgery program. We work with practices like Atwal Eye Care to match uninsured and underinsured patients in financial need with volunteer surgeons, who donate their time and facilities to provide cataract surgery at no cost to the patient.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a household income within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Must be uninsured or underinsured (insurance must not cover any portion of cataract surgery).
  • Patients who receive Medicare Part B are ineligible.
  • The program does not pay or assist with copays or deductibles.
• Must have a recent cataract diagnosis, where cataract surgery has been deemed medically necessary.
• Must permanently reside in the United States. Patients temporarily visiting are not eligible for the program.

PATIENT QUALIFICATION PROCESS

STEP ONE: PATIENT INQUIRY FORM

The inquiry form is the first step in our screening process to determine patient eligibility. Patients can fill one a patient inquiry form at: www.ascrs.org/foundation/operation-sight

STEP TWO: APPLICATION

If the patient may be eligible, they will be asked to complete a more detailed application with additional documentation to determine their eligibility.

STEP THREE: APPROVAL

If approved, we will work to match the patient directly with the referring volunteer surgeon, who may be able to provide the patient with charitable cataract surgery.

Please note this may take at least a few months and a match is not guaranteed. Operation Sight surgeons provide their services on a voluntary basis.