ClearVision Foundation Partners With Operation Sight

ClearVision Foundation is proud to partner with Operation Sight! Operation Sight is a wonderful part of American Society Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) that helps uninsured and underinsured people with cataracts. Read on to learn more.

Operation Sight Cataract Assistance


Who qualifies for Operation Sight?

  • Patients must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level defined by Federal
    Poverty Guidelines
  • Uninsured of underinsured individuals (insurance must not cover cataract surgery)
  • Must have a formal cataract diagnosis where surgery has been deemed
    medically necessary
  • When and how are patients notified of their application status?
  • If email is listed, patients will be notified within 7–10 business days
  • If no email is provided, they will be contacted via telephone
  • If application is incomplete, an ASCRS Foundation staff member will contact the applicant
    to request additional information or documentation
  • Applications are placed on hold until all information or documentation has been received
    How long will it take a patient to receive charitable cataract surgery through OS
    once approved?
    Does Operation Sight help with co-pays?
  • OS doesn’t assist with payment of co-pays or out-of-pocket costs through
    private insurance.
    Do insured patients qualify for Operation Sight?
  • Patients MUST be uninsured or underinsured
  • If insured, their insurance must NOT cover cataract surgery
  • Medicare Part B patients do not qualify for OS
    How does Operation Sight financially qualify a patient to receive charitable
    cataract surgery?
  • Patients need to document their household income (must show less than 200% of
    federal poverty level)
  • Proof of income can be submitted by W-2, monthly paystub, or annual tax return
  • If unemployed, applicant must provide a copy of any financial award letters from
    a disability, social security, food stamps, retirement funds, pension, alimony, or
    unemployment offices
  • If unemployed and living with family or friends, person must send proof of the
    household income and letter from family/friends confirming they are financially
    supporting the applicant
  • There is no set timeframe for when an approved applicant will receive surgery
  • It is dependent on the location of the patient and the availability of the volunteer surgeon
  • Surgeries are done by volunteer surgeons at their own facilities and will be worked into
    their existing schedule
  • Acceptance into OS does not guarantee surgery
  • What happens once the patient has been matched to a volunteer surgeon?
  • The surgeon who has accepted the case will have their staff members contact the patient
    via telephone to schedule a pre-operative eye exam
    What happens if the initial eye exam indicates the patient has another condition,
    like glaucoma?
  • At this point, OS is only for cataract surgery
  • If the surgeon determines the patient isn’t a good candidate, the patient will not be
    eligible for the program
    Does the patient supply their own transportation?
  • Yes. The patient is responsible for getting to and from the office/surgery center for both
    pre- and post-op exams and the surgery
    Who is responsible for post-op care?
  • The volunteer surgeon/practice will provide routine follow-up care for a 90-day period
    following surgery
  • After the 90-day period, if additional care is required, it becomes the responsibility
    of the patient