Operation sight Volunteers

Operation Sight Volunteer Process

Our goal is to make it simple for you to volunteer and change lives. Here's an overview of how our process works.

1. Register to Be a Volunteer: Complete the Volunteer Form to register as an Operation Sight volunteer. Our team will reach out with more information.
2. Patient Applies for Care: We take responsibility for pre-qualifying patients, completing paperwork, and managing all communication throughout the application, approval, and matching processes to reduce the burden on our volunteers. For more detailed information on this process, please visit our Patient Frequently Asked Questions. 
3. Match: We match pre-qualified patients with a registered Operation Sight volunteer surgeon in their area. Volunteers can then choose to accept the patient's case based on the information provided.
4. Charitable Surgery: Volunteers work with the patient and complete the charitable surgery.
5. Documentation: Once surgery is complete, documentation is returned to the Foundation.

Patient Qualification

Here are the qualifications patients need to meet to be eligible for Operation Sight:

• Must be at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Level defined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Documentation of household income and dependents must be provided.
• Must be uninsured or underinsured when insurance does not cover cataract surgery. Patients who receive Medicare Part B are ineligible. The program does not pay or assist with copays.
• Must have a formal cataract diagnosis within the past 24 months, where cataract surgery has been deemed medically necessary. Bilateral vision correctable to 20/40 or below is not deemed as medically necessary, unless otherwise noted.
• Must be permanently residing in the United States. Applicants who are temporarily visiting do not qualify for the program.

Should your practice receive a direct request for charitable cataract surgery, you may refer the patient to Operation Sight for review and pre-qualification. Please direct them to our Patient Inquiry Form.