ASCRS Foundation, Aerie raise over $100,000 for cataract surgery patients

The ASCRS Foundation and Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that over $100,000 was raised in 2021 for patients in need of cataract surgery.

Image source: ASCRS Foundation website.

The ASCRS Foundation and Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced Tuesday the joint fundraising of $109,411 made possible by an annual donation match campaign.

All funds will go toward helping the Operation Sight Program, an initiative launched by the foundation in 2014 that provides cataract surgery to patients across the United States.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Aerie has supported the foundation in matching donations from attendees of the annual ASCRS-ASOA meeting, according to a news release.

For 2021, the company agreed to match, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000. With this year's amount, the total amount of funding raised since 2018 has now reached $296,567.

The funds have enabled volunteer surgeons within the Operation Sight program to perform surgery on 1,186 eligible patients, the release stated.

Industry collaboration helps fuel the ASCRS Foundation’s humanitarian work, and Aerie has been a responsive partner in our shared mission," said Don Bell, ASCRS Foundation executive director, in a statement. "These efforts enable the ASCRS Foundation and Operation Sight to expand its ability to bring life-changing surgery to financially vulnerable, uninsured Americans who otherwise could not afford or access care.”

See the news on ASCRS Foundation's website and a complete list of donors who supported the initiative.