Operation Sight is the ASCRS Foundation’s U.S.-based charitable cataract surgery program. The program matches eligible cataract patients with volunteer surgeons who are members of the Operation Sight Network. The Operation Sight Network includes volunteer surgeons from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and other established charitable organizations. Operation Sight strives to provide accessible care in the home communities of eligible patients.

To be eligible for the Operation Sight program, patients must be at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level defined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines; uninsured or underinsured (insurance must not pay any portion of cataract surgery), must have a formal cataract diagnosis where cataract surgery has been deemed medically necessary, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Operation Sight’s charitable surgery and care is offered to patients on a voluntary basis. The program and its volunteers reserve the right to approve or decline service to any approved patient for any reason at any time.

Operation Sight does not assist with the payment of co-pays or out of pocket costs through private insurance.

To qualify as an Operation Sight patient, patients must be uninsured or underinsured (if insured, patients must not have insurance that would pay any portion of cataract surgery). Medicare Part B patients do not qualify for the Operation Sight program.

When applying to become an Operation Sight patient, you will be asked to document your household income. To be eligible for the Operation Sight program, a patient must show annual household income of less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Proof of income can be submitted in the form of a W-2 or monthly paystub, or through your annual tax return. If unemployed, send a copy of any financial award letters from disability, social security, food stamps, retirement fund/pension, alimony, or unemployment offices. If unemployed and living with family members or friends, send proof of the household income and letter from family confirming they are financially supporting the applicant.

If an email is listed, patients will be notified via email within 10–14 business days of submitting their completed application. If no email is provided we will contact you via telephone, and inform you on your status. If an application is incomplete, an Operation Sight staff member will contact you to request the additional information or documentation needed. Applications are placed on hold until all information or documentation requested has been provided.

Operation Sight charitable surgeries are done by volunteer surgeons at their own facilities and must be worked into their existing surgical schedule. Operation Sight volunteers are donating their surgical services and office visits to you. Some may happen quickly, others may require a wait of several months. Acceptance to the Operation Sight does not guarantee surgery. There is no set timeframe for when an approved applicant will receive surgery. It is dependent on the location of the patient and the availability of a volunteer surgeon.

The volunteer surgeon who has accepted your case will have his or her staff members contact you via telephone to schedule a preoperative eye exam. We ask that you keep us updated in case there is a change in the telephone number(s) provided on your application. Please call Operation Sight at 703-788-5786 to update your information.

At this point in time, the Operation Sight program is only for cataract surgery. If the surgeon determines that the patient is not a good candidate for surgery due to another condition, the patient will—unfortunately—not be eligible for the Operation Sight program.

Yes, the patient is responsible for getting to and from the office/surgery center for both pre- and postop exams and the surgery.

The Operation Sight program includes a network of established charitable organizations and ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) member volunteer surgeons who perform the surgeries.

The surgery takes place at the surgery center used by the volunteer surgeon.

The volunteer surgeon/practice will provide routine follow-up care for a 90-day period following cataract surgery. After the 90-day period, if additional postop care is required, it then becomes the responsibility of the patient.

For more information about our program, please call 703-788-5786 or email us at sduval@ascrs.org.