FAIRFAX, Va.—The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation announced that National Sight Week will be Oct. 24 to 28.

National Sight Week is a week-long celebration of volunteerism, during which members of the ASCRS Operation Sight (the Foundation’s domestic charitable cataract surgery program) network are encouraged to contribute one or more charitable cataract surgeries in their own communities.

The ASCRS Foundation will work to match eligible patients with volunteer surgeons, and will provide a financial stipend for each surgery completed. There is no minimum number of cases required and the foundation works to generate positive local press for practices that take part.

“We’ve all seen the heartbreaking photos of cataract blinded patients in the developing world, but many forget there is a similar need here at home,” said Stephen Lane, MD, co-chair of the ASCRS Foundation and director of Operation Sight. “Although they often go unnoticed, many poor Americans still fall outside traditional safety nets. The future is especially bleak for cataract patients who lack private insurance and are not eligible for government care.”

For more information about National Sight Week and for questions on becoming a volunteer surgeon, contact Evelyn Morales at (703)-591-2220 or email at emorales@asrcs.org.