Free Cataract Surgery Program for Central Virginians:
Virginia Eye Institute Now Accepting Applications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 16, 2020
Starting January, 2020 Virginia Eye Institute will begin accepting applications for its 27th Annual Cataract Mission program. Virginia Eye Institute’s Cataract Mission program is an outreach program designed to help Virginians in need receive free cataract surgery. Eligibility criteria for the program include a lack of insurance (including Medicare or Medicaid), a lack of the financial means necessary to pay for the surgery (0-200% FPL), and residency in the service area for a minimum of 6 months.
Applications will be accepted through February 7, 2020. The screening day will be Saturday, February 22, 2020. The surgery day will be Saturday, February 29, 2020. Qualified candidates may call the Cataract Mission Hotline at (804) 287-4905 or email info@vaeye.com to request an application.
To date, Virginia Eye Institute’s Cataract Mission program has donated over 800 eye exams and 240 surgeries. More than $5,000 worth of services, including post-op follow-up, is provided at no cost to each patient in the program. In 2019, Virginia Eye Institute and performed over 30 surgeries and office visits through partners Access Now.
Approximately 80 Virginia Eye Institute employees, from the front desk staff to the physicians, volunteer for the program each year. “Cataract Mission is the most important outreach program at Virginia Eye Institute. I have been fortunate to be the lead physician for 20 of the 21 years this program has been in existence. With our volunteers, we are able to make life-changing differences in these patients’ lives. I am always impressed by the enthusiasm of all of our staff. We have benefited greatly from being in the Richmond community, and this program allows the physicians and staff volunteers to give back to those who most need our help.” said Read F. McGehee, M.D., one of Virginia Eye Institute’s partners.
