For 28 years, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Eye Surgery Center has championed access to life-changing care by participating in Mission Cataract USA. This program offers free cataract surgeries to non-members/uninsured individuals who qualify and cannot afford the procedure.
An estimated 38.5 million individuals in the United States will have cataracts by 2032. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness (51%) and low vision (33%) worldwide. Mission Cataract USA is a national initiative that restores the best vision to hundreds of people yearly, with medical professionals volunteering their time and skills. Kaiser Permanente Sacramento’s Eye Surgery Center staff is proud to support the program and serving as one of the surgical sites, running it from start to finish at no cost to patients.
“The surgeries are performed on a Saturday when the facility is closed. Kaiser Permanente employees and providers volunteer to make this community outreach event possible, with many choosing to dedicate their time to help others,” says Ericka Osborn, BSN, RN, Nurse Manager, Eye Surgery Center/ Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Additionally, nursing students and adult children of staff members volunteer their time to assist patients and their families.