Eyeworld

EW NEWS & OPINION 22 October 2016 by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer ASCRS Foundation encourages volunteers to perform charitable cataract surgeries during the week of October 24–28 M ichael Grey was read- ing less, something he used to love doing. He lost his job. He couldn't get a driver's license, and he couldn't fill out a job application. Eventually, he became homeless. He had lost his vision and was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. After the organization I Care San Antonio and its volunteer oph- thalmologists stepped in to perform surgery, Mr. Grey's vision improved to the point where he was back to reading and attending an IT training program. "I sit at the front of my class because I want to make sure I can concentrate on the professor, not because I can't see the board," Mr. Grey wrote in a patient testimonial. "It's no exaggeration to say that the eye operations I received through I Care San Antonio and the generosity of Alcon [Fort Worth, Texas] and the ASCRS Foundation have given me back my life, both literally and figuratively." Mr. Grey's story is like that of hundreds resulting from the work of local organizations and ophthal- mologists affiliated with the ASCRS Foundation's U.S.-based human- itarian program Operation Sight. With the inaugural National Sight Week on October 24–28, 2016, the Foundation's organizers are hopeful that many more similar stories will be added. Stephen Lane, MD, co-chair of the ASCRS Foundation, Minne- apolis, said National Sight Week's goal is to encourage ASCRS member ophthalmologists to volunteer and for Operation Sight volunteer sur- geons to perform as many charitable cataract surgeries as possible. "I would love to see a lot of cases being done, but I'd much rath- er see more surgeons doing fewer cases than a few surgeons doing a lot of cases. I'd also like to see them cover more ground in the U.S.," Dr. Lane said, explaining how he hopes increased member involvement will create a snowball effect in future years that will benefit U.S. commu- nities at large. Though cataract surgery is one of the most common—and safest— outpatient procedures performed in the U.S., many in the country still go without, living with vision impaired by a clouded lens. "There is a perception that everyone can get medical care in the U.S., that through one way, shape, or form, there are organizations—be them Medicaid or other communi- ty-type services—for people to get the kind of health care they need," Dr. Lane said. "That's simply not the case. There are a lot of people who, unfortunately, fall between the cracks and are unable to get ade- quate medical care." Out of that concern, Operation Sight was formed under the ASCRS Foundation in 2014 with Kerry Solomon, MD, ASCRS president, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, of- fering the name from the charitable organization that he co-founded in his home state. Dr. Lane said many surgeons have been doing charitable work in their own community for years. Op- eration Sight, he added, makes that work easier. Currently, the program has more than 130 Operation Sight surgeons and partner organizations. Since its inception, Operation Sight, under the Foundation's umbrella, has performed more than 530 opera- tions and has a growing waiting list of patients. Robert Rice, MD, Rashid & Rice Eye Associates, San Antonio, Texas, had been doing medical mission trips out of the country for years. One day in his clinic in the U.S., a patient asked him about his volun- teer work. "He said, 'Why don't you do volunteer work here, too?'" Dr. Rice recalled. Dr. Rice took that challenge to heart and over the years helped create a nonprofit with 35 physician volunteers who see more than 5,000 cases a year with about 50 of them needing cataract surgeries. Performing many of these cases is made fiscally easier thanks to a $250 stipend from the ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight, Dr. Rice said, adding later that the program can also help determine if someone is qualified for assistance. The Foundation also helps identify those who need help in the first place. "ASCRS can help facilitate doc- tors' volunteer efforts and make peo- ple aware of this problem, which is a real blessing to everyone," Dr. Rice said of the upcoming National Sight Week. "To help people see the great need that there is and that we have the resources to help that need." Elizabeth Yeu, MD, Virginia Eye Consultants, Norfolk, Virginia, whose practice has long been per- forming charitable surgeries, called National Sight Week a time when "we can all rally together during this one week dedicated to eyesight. There is a lot of synergy and com- radery to be able to provide that nationwide among all of the eye Gear up for National Sight Week James Lehmann, MD, Focal Point Vision, San Antonio, donates time each month to volunteer his medical experience and perform cataract surgeries pro bono for those in his community through the local nonprofit I Care San Antonio. He's one of many volunteers working with the ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight program. Source: I Care San Antonio Operation Sight facts • Started: August 2014 • Surgeries performed to date: 536 • Number of participating surgeons and partner organizations: 137 • Patients awaiting surgery: 50 and counting • 2016 National Sight Week: October 24–28 • More information: www.ascrsfoundation.org/operation-sight

• Cover