Charitable Cataract Surgery Program

Our Mission

Our mission is to help eliminate preventable vision loss by providing charitable cataract surgery to qualifying patients who are uninsured and unable to afford care, including individuals without Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

This initiative reflects Virginia Eye Institute’s ongoing commitment to serving our community through compassionate, high-quality care. Our physicians, surgical teams, and associates proudly volunteer their time and expertise to help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life through restored vision.

How The Program Works

• Initial Screening & Qualification
  Patients should first visit a participating free clinic or community health clinic for an initial medical and financial screening. During this process, patients are evaluated for eligibility and connected with Access Now for specialty care coordination.

  Patients in the Richmond area may contact:

  Fan Free Clinic
  (804) 622-8146

  Patients should be prepared to provide documentation during the screening process, including:

  • Proof of income or recent pay stubs
  • Proof of residency/address
  • Photo identification
  • Insurance information, if applicable

  Additional documentation requirements may vary depending on the clinic.

• Referral & Scheduling
  Once approved through the screening and referral process, eligible patients are referred to Virginia Eye Institute through Access Now for evaluation and surgical scheduling.
• Surgery & Ongoing Care
  Our experienced team provides comprehensive cataract care throughout the entire process, from consultation and surgery to post-operative follow-up care, ensuring patients receive the highest level of support and treatment.

Partners in Vision Care

Virginia Eye Institute proudly partners with the ASCRS Foundation through its Operation Sight initiative, which works to eliminate preventable blindness by providing charitable cataract surgery to underserved populations throughout the United States.

Hear from Our Patients

“My experience saved my eyesight. I had cataracts at the age of 54 and I couldn’t see out of prescribed glasses on my left eye. Dr. Grubbs and his staff treated me like I was a queen.” – Linda Toombs

“My eyes are so much better and I can see things far better. I can recognize faces again and see far away clearly.” – Zewde Bedasa

“My quality of life has improved vastly. I truly appreciated the care and professionalism from everyone involved.” – Jesus Maria

“This procedure was so helpful and my quality of life is so much better. I’m incredibly grateful this program exists.” – Linzie Holder

“I have never experienced this level of kindness, professionalism, and care from a medical office. It was truly exceptional.” – VEI Patient

“Everything went great. Thank you all very much!” – Mario Ernesto Flores-Reyes

“The surgery went very well and the results were excellent.” – Jorge Guajardo-Vargas

Join Us in Making a Difference

Virginia Eye Institute is proud to help restore sight and improve quality of life for patients in need throughout our community. Through partnerships, volunteerism, and compassionate care, we remain committed to helping more individuals access life-changing vision care.

For more information about the ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight, visit the ASCRS Foundation website.