ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—Some 100 low-income people across the U.S. will receive free Crystalens cataract-lens implants this week, courtesy of a new Bausch & Lomb program called Changing 100 Lives in 100 Minutes.

B&L will donate 100 pairs of these lenses, not generally covered by private insurance or Medicare. From coast to coast, 100 participating ophthalmologists will perform Crystalens IOL implantation surgeries simultaneously over the course of an hour and 40 minutes at no additional charge.

The national effort begins Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 a.m. (EDT) with the implantation of the 100,000th Crystalens IOL by James P. Gills, MD, founder of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to show our appreciation for the success of the Crystalens IOL than to share the gift of sight with people who struggle with cataracts,” said Andy Corley, president, U.S. surgical, Bausch & Lomb. “We hope that our contribution, and the contributions of dedicated surgeons across the country, makes a difference in the lives of people in need.”