THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260218
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Free cataract surgery for 10 eligible Portsmouth residents will be offered May 13 through 16 in conjunction with Mission Cataract USA 1996.
Tidewater Eye Surgeons and Associates will screen people May 3 and offer the surgery to those patients with the most need who do not have any type of medical insurance or other means of paying.
The nationwide project began five years ago when a California doctor offered free cataract surgery on a Saturday in May to patients in need.
Two years later, the program had expanded across the country and in 1995, 141 clinics and hospitals and more than 300 ophthalmologists provided the free surgery to more than 1,500 people.
Last year, eight Portsmouth people benefited from the program.
This year, both Tidewater Eye Surgeons and Associates and the Virginia Eye Institute in Richmond will participate in the project in Virginia.
Portsmouth doctors involved include Dale H. Sponaugle, Jay C. Starling and Wayne DeVantier.
Also assisting the project here are Portsmouth General Hospital, Better Vision Eye Glass Center, Poplar Hill Diagnostic Lab, Alcon Inc. and Dr. Robert J. Marhalik, medical director of anesthesia at Portsmouth General.
Portsmouth Family Medicine will perform physicals and medical histories for the patients.
To register, call Candi Dail at 422-4235. by CNB