FAIRFAX, Va.—The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation has announced that its fourth annual National Sight Week will take place from Oct. 20 to 26, 2019. National Sight Week is a weeklong celebration of volunteerism, when members of the ASCRS Foundation’s Operation Sight Network are encouraged to contribute to charitable cataract surgeries in their communities. This year’s goal for National Sight Week is to increase the number of charitable cataract surgeries, as well as to increase the overall awareness of the Operation Sight program and why it is needed.

The ASCRS Foundation’s Operation Sight is a U.S.-based charitable cataract surgery program which involves a network of ASCRS volunteer surgeons and staff members who provide care to patients who cannot access or afford cataract surgery on their own. It launched in late 2014, and has delivered over 3,530 free surgeries so far.

This year, the ASCRS is also encouraging doctors to join the Operation Sight network. Interested surgeons or practices can visit www.ascrsfoundation.org/volunteer to learn more. There is no minimum number of cases required to participate, and the Foundation will generate positive press for practices that take part. Throughout National Sight Week, Foundation staff will match new and returning volunteers with eligible patients.

Jeffrey Whitman, MD, Operation Sight volunteer surgeon said, “Operation Sight—for me as a physician—is all about giving back to those whose poor eye sight prevent them from doing their jobs, or who do not have money or insurance to help. This program has not only allowed us to help patients get back on their feet with better vision, but it has had a positive effect on my staff—in the clinic and in the ambulatory surgery center. Everyone wants to be part of doing this good deed.”

For more information about Operation Sight and National Sight Week, visit ascrsfoundation.org/nationalsightweek.