Eyeworld

3 EW ASCRS NEWS December 2018 by Natalie Zundel ASCRS Foundation Development Director Operation Sight's streamlined appli- cation and qualification process, Dr. Campbell and his practice have been able to improve the lives of many of Williamsburg's neediest cataract patients. For the 2018 National Sight Week, Dr. Campbell agreed to also treat out-of-state patients whom the ASCRS Foundation was struggling to match with surgeons. "I was surprised to learn that these patients had no options in their home state to receive this much-needed care," Dr. Campbell said. "One patient came from more than 5½ hours away in the hope of regaining his sight so that he could achieve the independence he had lost due to dense cataracts. Knowing we were able to help restore this patient's sight and impact his life in such a positive way is the reason I think doctors choose this challeng- ing profession." a solution for eligible American patients by enabling ASCRS member eye surgeons to perform charita- ble cataract surgeries in their own communities with support from the ASCRS Foundation," said Stephen Lane, MD, ASCRS Foundation co- chair and chair of Domestic Initia- tives. "Together, we're working to end preventable cataract blindness in the United States." The ASCRS Foundation provides administrative support needed to identify and pre-qualify patients, then matches them with local vol- unteer surgeons. For some surgeons, a willingness to help has even ex- tended beyond their communities. That's what happened with Glenn Campbell, MD, Advanced Vision Institute, Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Campbell joined the Op- eration Sight volunteer network in 2017 and found the program a perfect partner in his quest to help local patients. With the help of more than 3,000 free cataract surger- ies provided to date. This growth was reflected in the celebration of the third annual Na- tional Sight Week (October 14–20), when surgeons, staff, and volunteers outdid themselves and treated 310 patients. This year, Operation Sight volunteer practices not only helped change lives in their local commu- nities, but also made the week-long celebration go viral. Practices shared a multitude of photos, messag- es, and videos with the hashtags #NationalSightWeek and #Opera- tionSight on social media channels. While the Operation Sight program runs year-round, the ASCRS Foundation began the National Sight Week initiative as a way to increase overall understanding of patient need and encourage sur- geons to join the growing volunteer network. "The ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight initiative offers ASCRS members perform charitable cataract surgery through Operation Sight "T hank you so much. I'm enjoying eye- sight like I haven't had since I was about 9 years old," said Leslie, an Operation Sight pa- tient. "I'm so excited with this new lease on life. I can drive myself and handicapped parishioners to church again." Operation Sight was launched by the ASCRS Foundation 4 years ago to meet the needs of American patients like Leslie. Through Oper- ation Sight, the ASCRS Foundation has created a national network of volunteer ASCRS member surgeons who give their time and expertise to treat needy cataract patients who have no other options. The program has seen exponential growth, with Third annual National Sight Week results in more than 300 charitable cataract surgeries continued on page 8 Operation Sight partner practices shared National Sight Week photos on Twitter @ASCRSFoundation and on the ASCRS Facebook page. Source: All images shared with the ASCRS Foundation

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