Our physicians spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday performing surgery at the Lions Eye Club in San Pedro Sula, where they completed vision-restoring cataract surgeries and cornea transplants, as well as several vision-saving glaucoma surgeries. At the end of three days, a total of 78 surgeries were performed. They spent a lot of time teaching the local ophthalmologists and local trainees how to do cataract surgery with techniques used in the United States. When we asked Dr. Hansen for a highlight moment, he replied, “It is always exciting the day after surgery when we remove the patch and watch the joy and surprise on patients’ faces.”

On Thursday the team traveled to Santa Rosa, Honduras for a Simposio Oftalmologico, which was a continuing education program for many ophthalmologists in Central America. It was also the grand opening of a new eye clinic designed and constructed by the Robles Family. This clinic will serve many patients in Honduras.

We appreciate the support of many donors who make this life-changing work possible and also the support from The Minnesota Eye Foundation.

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Sponsored by the Minnesota Eye Foundation, The Vision Project (TVP) provides medically necessary eye care services and surgeries at no cost to patients unable to afford treatment.

The program is a volunteer effort supported by Minnesota Eye Consultants surgeons and team members, along with the assistance of anesthetists and vendors willing to donate their time, expertise, equipment, and supplies. The majority of surgeries take place during the program’s annual two-day event and post-op clinic occurring in February and March.

This year’s dates are quickly approaching: Saturday, February 16^th & Saturday, March 2^nd.

For consideration, the applicant must:

• Have a medical diagnosis causing a significant decrease in vision.
• Live in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area and/or can arrange transportation to/from Minnesota Eye Consultants’ office located in Bloomington, MN.
• Have insufficient or no insurance coverage to pay for the treatment or requested service. Patients eligible for Medicaid (Medical Assistance) or Medicare must apply for coverage prior to applying for The Vision Project.
• Meet certain household income limits. For example, eligible patients must show an annual household income of less than 200% of the current year’s Federal Poverty Guidelines.

If you or someone you know may benefit from The Vision Project, we encourage you to complete the online application process! Through Minnesota Eye Consultants, qualified candidates will receive an Evaluation, Pre-op Physical (required for the procedure), surgery, surgical medications and post-op visits, all at no cost.

Applications can be submitted online by visiting the Patient Application page of our Minnesota Eye Foundation website. For questions about The Vision Project, please email us at thevisionproject@mneye.com.

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“Operation Eyesight”- took place on Saturday, February 5 and Saturday, March 5, teams 20-25 Minnesota Eye Consultants employees – surgeons and clinic professionals — who contribute their time and skills to perform cataract surgeries at no cost for patients without insurance coverage.

“We are seeing a rapidly growing number of patients with special vision needs and dire financial circumstances who just aren’t being served in today’s economy,” said Dr. Elizabeth A. Davis, board-certified ophthalmologist, partner and medical director of Minnesota Eye Consultants’ Surgery Center, who helped launch this volunteer program nine years ago.

“They are patients from the Twin Cities, greater Minnesota and Wisconsin who are in need of cataract surgery, but who are facing dire financial burdens – unemployment, bankruptcy or lack of insurance or disability benefits,” she said. “Without insurance or Medicaid or other support, cataract surgery is, simply, not an option.”

Volunteers arrive as early as 6:00 a.m. to greet the patients and their families. For most patients, there are two surgeries and two post-surgical visits involved. Beyond the volunteer efforts of the surgeons and medical/professional teams at Minnesota Eye Consultants, all supplies, equipment and medications are donated to Operation Eyesight patients.

“It has truly been rewarding to serve these folks by engaging our entire team — surgeons, physicians, clinic professionals and even their families – in this volunteer effort,” said Dr. Davis. “Our goal now is to inspire other practices, medical providers and volunteers to help serve the growing needs for these patients.”

She added, “We all benefit in this effort by ensuring that these patients receive the medical attention they deserve, especially in light of the financial difficulties or special challenges they face every day,” said Dr. Davis. “It’s our way of giving back to the community and supporting people who can benefit from the care and attention of others.”

Minnesota Eye Consultants, the ophthalmology practice of Drs. Richard L. Lindstrom, Thomas W. Samuelson, David R. Hardten, Elizabeth A. Davis, William J. Lipham, Patrick J. Riedel, Sherman W. Reeves, and Jill S. Melicher is a recognized leader in corneal, cataract, glaucoma, refractive and oculoplastic surgery. Visit www.mneye.com to learn more.

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