'Neighbors in Need' Program Helping Woman Losing Her Vision

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - It's a race against the clock to save a Detroit woman's sight. All she wants is to watch her grandchildren grow, but she cannot do that without a lot of help.

"I need surgery, and I can't see. Everything is a blur," said Diane Gerald.

She is desperate to once again see clearly. Diane's been losing her vision for a year now thanks to two big issues.

"She has two different issues … one is a cataract and one is a glaucoma. If there is too much damage from the glaucoma, then the cataract surgery will not help as much as our hope is," said Dr. Snigda Singh with the Southgate Surgery Center.

With no health insurance and no where else to turn, Diane called FOX 2. We contacted the Southgate Surgery Center. They've created a program to donate surgeries to people with vision problems who can't afford treatment.

So, will doctors be able to help Diane?

"We looked over the results and it looks like there is some damage from the glaucoma, but overall, we think we can help your vision with cataract surgery," Singh told her. "So, we're going to go ahead a schedule you for cataract surgery and the glaucoma surgery. You're going to be our first patient in the 'Neighbors in Need' program, and we're thrilled."

Next, we are following Diane through the surgery and her recovery to see if she gets her sight back.

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Neighbors in Need Cataract Program

• New program for the community from Castleman Eye Center and Southgate Surgery Center
   
• Provides cataract surgery at no cost to patient
   
• Surgery provided to patients who have no insurance and no means of affording cataract surgery due to financial hardship.
   
• Both medical facilities, all surgical supplies, lens implants, Castleman Eye Center surgeons and Metropolitan Anesthesia Consultants are donating everything free of charge to patients.

Patients must meet certain criteria:

• No health insurance coverage
   
• No financial means of affording cataract surgery due to economic hardship. (Must provide documentation)
   
• Patient is unable to drive, work and/or function without assistance in their day to day activities.
   
• Patient has no other eye disease that could possibly interfere with outcome or preclude them from having surgery.
   
• Patient must be willing to sign Affidavit stating they have no health insurance and no financial means.

For more information, contact:

Castleman Eye Center (2 locations)
113 East Long Lake RoadTroy, MI 48085
AND
20500 Eureka Road, Suite 200
Taylor, MI 48180
800-403-0060
www.castlemaneyecenter.com

Southgate Surgery Center
14050 Dix-Toledo Road
Southgate, MI 48105
734-281-0100
www.southgatesurgery.com