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Mission Cataract

Mission Cataract is an annual two-week event where Center For Sight surgeons and staff provide free sight-saving 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.

There is no way to prevent cataract formation; a condition where the lens of the eye becomes clouded and eventually results in vision loss. Surgical treatment is necessary to replace the clouded lens and restore lost sight. However, for the thousands of adults living below the poverty level in Florida, many have neglected their vision care needs out of financial necessity.

David W. Shoemaker, M.D., Founder and Director of Cataract & Lens Replacement Surgery at Center For Sight felt that no one should succumb to a life of blindness due to a treatable condition. That’s why, over 25 years ago, he established Center For Sight as a Mission Cataract partner. The rest is history: For over two decades, Center For Sight has performed thousands of free cataract surgeries. Surgeries are performed for people living in Southwest Florida, and across the nation. Recently, Center For Sight partnered with the ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight in order to expand our reach and provide this sight-saving service to even more individuals in need.

We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Mission Cataract Event.

The deadline for applications is Friday, May 23, 2025.

To apply, please download the application and complete the form. You may mail your completed application packet to:

Center For Sight Foundation
Attention: Mission Cataract
1360 East Venice Avenue
Venice, Florida 34285

Or you may fax your completed application packet to (941) 499-7847.

For more information on the application process please call (941) 493-2020.

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    We are a proud partner of US Eye, a leading group of patient-centric, vertically integrated multi-specialty physician practices providing patients with care in ophthalmology, optometry, dermatology and cosmetic facial surgery.

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