Eyeworld

3 by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer EW ASCRS NEWS Second annual National Sight Week October 15–21 October 2017 ness because of cataract in our own communities." "This is going to be built on the backs of the member surgeons who are spearheading it from their indi- vidual clinics, ASCs, or hospitals," Dr. Lane said. "Ongoing success is going to be dependent on the individual surgeons who have taken it upon themselves to lead the effort in their communities. The greater the number of surgeons, the greater the number of surgeries that can be done, and they're being done in the backyards of the surgeons so it's a major benefit to their communities." Learn more about National Sight Week and sign up to be an Operation Sight volunteer at ascrs- foundation.org or contact Evelyn Morales with the ASCRS Foundation at emorales@ascrs.org. "I know we are all busy, but I don't think anyone will regret help- ing someone in need regain the gift of sight," Dr. Kurz said. "I encourage all of my colleagues to look into be- coming part of the Operation Sight network. These patients are some of the happiest and most grateful patients we see. It truly is a joy to be part of this incredible network." EW Contact information Allen: allenfkeri@gmail.com Kurz: cjkurz_niner@yahoo.com Markowitz: Bethany.Markowitz@palmettohealth.org Lane: sslane@associatedeyecare.com Zundel: nzundel@ascrs.org ASCRS Foundation Operation Sight event raises awareness about preventable blindness in the U.S. T hree hundred: That's how many free cataract surger- ies organizers hope will be performed for those in need during the second annual National Sight Week (October 15–21, 2017), an event established by the ASCRS Foundation's Operation Sight program that seeks to raise aware- ness about preventable blindness in the U.S. The ASCRS Foundation held its first National Sight Week last year in October to coincide with World Sight Day. Dozens of ASCRS mem- bers joined Operation Sight—the ASCRS Foundation's domestic char- itable program—as volunteers that week and in the months following, growing the number of registered volunteers to the hundreds. While more than 200 free surgeries took place during the first National Sight Week, the awareness of Operation Sight and the need of those living with preventable blindness from cataract in the U.S. snowballed. The Foundation now receives three to four applications a week from patients seeking charitable cata- ract surgery. Since the start of the program in 2014, 1,310 cataract surgeries have been performed as part of Operation Sight. "We've increased the number of surgeons who are participating in this, so the word is getting out," said Stephen Lane, MD, Associated Eye Care, Stillwater, Minnesota, co-chair of the ASCRS Foundation. "It is reso- nating with our ASCRS membership, and we hope to continue to grow that awareness so that we can use this important week to help foster plans that we have [to increase the] number of patients and number of surgeons engaged." Even with the current volume of participating surgeons, there are sev- eral states with the highest number of applicants that could use more Operation Sight volunteers, includ- ing North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Virginia. Volunteer surgeons are matched with patients in their area who have been pre-screened by the Founda- tion for medical and financial need. The ASCRS Foundation provides a $250 stipend to offset the cost of the surgery and assists in public relations efforts to highlight the work of volunteer surgeons in their communities. "We are a small practice that doesn't have the time or resourc- es to vet these patients who need ophthalmic care. We are so grateful to Operation Sight for making sure the patients they send our way are truly in need," said Chris Kurz, MD, Virginia Beach Eye Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, an Operation Sight volunteer surgeon. "These patients typically have awful vision, and it is a privilege and joy to be able to restore function and quality of life in such dramatic fashion." Keri Allen, MD, ophthalmology resident, and Bethany Markowitz, MD, ophthalmology residency pro- gram director, Palmetto Health Uni- versity of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, said the ASCRS Foundation team was instrumental in helping them navigate the process of performing charitable cataract surgeries and identifying patients in need. "There are system barriers that this program will help you navigate through so patients can have life-changing surgery," Dr. Allen said. "If it can get a couple of extra patients cataract surgery who couldn't have otherwise afforded it, why not participate?" Dr. Markowitz called National Sight Week a yearly opportunity to "provide a meaningful service to a deserving patient by not only improving their vision but restoring their livelihood, their outlook on life, and interactions with their fam- ily and community. Restoring vision can be a full mind, body, and spir- it-restoring event in someone's life to give them new hope, new energy for all the aspects of their life." Dr. Lane said he hopes National Sight Week continues to be an event that surgeons put on their calendar, but Operation Sight is more than this 1 week out of the year. "What we're trying to do is not do huge numbers of cataract surger- ies—that would certainly be a nice byproduct—but the goal is to engage more surgeons to participate and be aware of this," Dr. Lane said, adding later that most Operation Sight surgeon volunteers perform charita- ble surgeries as part of the program throughout the year. "National Sight Week is a week in October but Operation Sight is a year-round program," said Natalie Zundel, director of development, ASCRS Foundation, Fairfax, Virginia. "Become a volunteer because we need help all year round. National Sight Week is a time to raise aware- ness. … There are people who are walking around with treatable blind- Operation Sight volunteer Elizabeth Yeu, MD, operates on a patient during the Virginia Eye Consultants "Looking Forward Giving Back" initiative. Source: Elizabeth Yeu, MD

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