Richmond (January 23, 2006) People of all ages who have no Medicare, Medicaid, third party payer insurance, or any other means to pay for eye care can get free cataract surgery and all follow-up care from surgeons at the Virginia Eye Institute.
Apply Before February 17, 2006!
Applications for the 13th annual Cataract Mission are being accepted now through February 17, 2006. Please call 484-6305 for a free application. This service is by appointment only.
About the Surgery
Surgery lasts about 20 minutes, during which the patient remains awake. Following surgery, functional vision without the use of glasses is usually restored. The patient is usually ready to go home within an hour of the surgery.
Eight surgeons and 50 staff volunteers will donate their time for this 2-day clinic. Through this mission, Virginia Eye Institute surgeons have provided over 600 free eye exams and 135 free cataract surgeries
Know Someone with Cataracts?
Call and let them know about this program. They would appreciate hearing from you.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that occurs with age and causes deteriorating vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over 1.4 million people have cataract surgery each year in the United States. As many as 50 percent of people over 70 have some form of cataract. Although it does not cause irreversible blindness, a cataract can greatly impair vision to the point of legal blindness.
Get an Eye Exam
"A thorough eye examination can detect the presence and extent of a cataract," according to Read F. McGehee, III, M.D., ophthalmologist and mission director. "Surgery is the only way to remove the cataract and should be considered when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with daily activities."
How to Contact the Program
Virginia Eye Institute (804) 484-6305, to apply for free surgery.
Prevent Blindness Virginia (888) 790-2020
http://www.preventblindness.org/VA/VA_cataract_surgery.html
Apply Before February 17, 2006!
Applications for the 13th annual Cataract Mission are being accepted now through February 17, 2006. Please call 484-6305 for a free application. This service is by appointment only.
About the Surgery
Surgery lasts about 20 minutes, during which the patient remains awake. Following surgery, functional vision without the use of glasses is usually restored. The patient is usually ready to go home within an hour of the surgery.
Eight surgeons and 50 staff volunteers will donate their time for this 2-day clinic. Through this mission, Virginia Eye Institute surgeons have provided over 600 free eye exams and 135 free cataract surgeries
Know Someone with Cataracts?
Call and let them know about this program. They would appreciate hearing from you.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that occurs with age and causes deteriorating vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over 1.4 million people have cataract surgery each year in the United States. As many as 50 percent of people over 70 have some form of cataract. Although it does not cause irreversible blindness, a cataract can greatly impair vision to the point of legal blindness.
Get an Eye Exam
"A thorough eye examination can detect the presence and extent of a cataract," according to Read F. McGehee, III, M.D., ophthalmologist and mission director. "Surgery is the only way to remove the cataract and should be considered when cataracts cause enough loss of vision to interfere with daily activities."
How to Contact the Program
Virginia Eye Institute (804) 484-6305, to apply for free surgery.
Prevent Blindness Virginia (888) 790-2020
http://www.preventblindness.org/VA/VA_cataract_surgery.html