Center for Sight doctors perform 120 free cataract surgeries

Reporter: Andrea Guerrero
Published: Updated:
FILE - This April 12, 2018 file photo shows the eye of a woman in New York. Patients are about to be enrolled in the first study to test gene editing inside the body to try to cure an inherited form of blindness. People with the disease have healthy eyes but lack a gene that converts light into signals to the brain that enable sight. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
FILE – This April 12, 2018 file photo shows the eye of a woman in New York. Patients are about to be enrolled in the first study to test gene editing inside the body to try to cure an inherited form of blindness. People with the disease have healthy eyes but lack a gene that converts light into signals to the brain that enable sight. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

Center for Sight doctors performed 120 free cataract surgeries for people without means to pay for treatment.

The Center For Sight surgeons, optometric physicians, nurse anesthetists, medical technicians, and administrative staff donate their time and expertise to the cause, performing an average of 100 vision restoring surgeries every year, according to the foundation.

Dr. Jon Berlie, who performed surgeries on Wednesday said you can visit their website,  CFSfoundation.org to apply for the program and see if you meet the criteria for future events.

The application window for the current surgeries ran from early February until July 31st, which was extended due to COVID-19, and the amount of interest.

Most of the surgeries take place in Sarasota, but for the first time, the foundation is performing some surgeries in their Naples office.

Dr. Berlie said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to help people closer to home in Southwest Florida.”

Next Wednesday is the second day of the event, since the process calls for surgery one eye the first week, and the second eye the following week.

Application criteria include:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or resident alien (green card)
  •  Cannot have insurance or be enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid
  • Must be living at or below the poverty guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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