SARASOTA (WSNN) – Job loss and the pandemic lead to more folks showing up for Center for Sight’s annual free Mission Cataract event.
“It’s like a thick sheet of plastic that you’re looking through,” 57-year-old, Sandra Sutton said. “You can see if you know what you’re looking at, you can make it out. As features on somebody’s face? No.”
Sutton came all the way from Georgia to fix her vision at the Center for Sight’s annual Mission Cataract event, where they offer free cataract surgeries to those in need. But this year, the event had a major increase in applicants.
“There are so many people that lost their jobs that are in the service industry and in certain sectors that were really hit hard by the pandemic, and we’re seeing a lot of those patients here at Center for Sight at Mission Cataract,” Medical Director, William Lahners, M.D. said.
Dr. Lahners says instead of their usual 100 patients, Center for Sight is helping 120 patients – a new record for them.
“Anyone that meets the financial requirements, that is they typically don’t have insurance, and they meet a certain financial need, if they have cataracts, we will help them,” Dr. Lahners said.
Laser cataract surgery for a person without Medicare or private insurance can range between 4,000 to 6,000 dollars per eye.
“Even though financial circumstances are not good, they don’t treat you any different, so it’s wonderful, it’s amazing,” Sutton said.
Sutton says she’s forever grateful to have the opportunity to change her life. A transformative surgery that only takes about ten minutes.
“It just feels so good,” Sutton said. “I’m happy; anxiety has gone out of the window.”
Dr. William Soscia says giving back to those in need is just as transformative for all the doctors and nurses involved as it is for the patients.
“It’s just a great opportunity to work with one another and show how we’re all one,” Dr. Soscia said. “One race. We’re all brothers and sisters in this big game called life.”
After putting his life on pause for a few years, Kenneth Lewis from Seminole Florida, says he has something to look forward to now.
“What do I see? A really really exciting future,” Lewis said.
Mission Cataract is funded by Center for Sight Foundation and other partners. Surgeries will continue next Wednesday for those with two cataracts,
