Mission Cataract USA provides free cataract surgery to people of all ages who cannot afford it.

Mission Cataract USA provides free cataract surgery to people of all ages who cannot afford it. Thanks to a Fresno, California, eye doctor's dream, hundreds of people across the country will regain their sight on one day each year, Cataract Day, at no cost to Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance recipients.

What is Mission Cataract USA?

Mission Cataract USA provides free cataract surgery to people of all ages who cannot afford it. The dream began in 1991 when Dr. Frederick A. Richburg, medical director of the Valley Eye Institute in Fresno, California, decided to donate a day of his time to perform free cataract surgery and create a local mission in his backyard. Thus, the Fresno '91 Cataract Mission was born. That year, he and local volunteers screened more than 150 people and performed free cataract surgery on 21. In 1992, the program expanded to include six ophthalmologists throughout California who provide free surgery statewide for patients who do not have health insurance, Medicaid, third-party insurance or any other ability to pay. In 1993, the program expanded to the entire country. As Dr. Richburg says, "Together we have helped a lot of people."

Mission Cataract: another name for caring.

The goal of Mission Cataract USA is to eliminate blindness due to cataracts in our country and enable as many people as possible to live meaningful lives without blindness. Mission Cataract USA hopes to have Mission Cataract surgeons in all 50 states so that no one in the United States cannot get cataract surgery due to financial reasons. Mission Cataract USA wants to make sure that every visually impaired person in the United States who does not have insurance or financial resources knows about this amazing program.

In addition, Crystalens can correct your cataracts and restore your full vision in just one cataract surgery.

What are cataracts?

Just like a camera, the eye has a lens to focus sharp images. When the lens is clear and focuses light onto a healthy retina at the back of the eye, vision is good.

Cataracts are the result of clouding of the natural lens and are part of the normal aging process. If we live long enough, we will all get cataracts. Some cataracts are caused by birth defects, injuries, medications, infections, radiation, toxic substances, or severe electrical shocks.

Cataracts are the most common cause of blurred vision in people over the age of 50. While there is no medication or diet that can cure cataracts, surgical removal of the cataract and implantation of a permanent artificial lens can restore lost vision.

It is estimated that 15 million people worldwide have lost their sight due to cataracts. Thousands of people who do not have Medicare, Medicaid, third-party insurance, or any other way to pay for surgery have been helped by cataract assistance programs.

How is the surgery performed?

Cataract surgery is a microsurgery performed through incisions inside the eye using a surgical microscope.

During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the eye's natural lens - the lens that has lost its transparency, causing blurry or distorted vision. Today, modern cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. With the advent of small incision cataract surgery, stitches are usually not required. In most cases, patients can use their eye soon after surgery and can go home the same day.

How do I apply for free cataract surgery?

On the Mission Cataract website, click on participating doctors and clinics. If there are Mission Cataract doctors in your state, contact the doctor's office directly to see if they can help you.

If there are no Mission Cataract doctors in my state, can I go to another state for surgery?

Some Mission Cataract doctors accept out-of-state patients, but many do not. Call individual doctors' offices to find out if they accept out-of-state patients.

If there are no Mission Cataract participating doctors near me, what should I do?

Mission Cataract is actively recruiting new Mission Cataract volunteer surgeons, so stay tuned to the Mission Cataract website.