Minn. eye surgeon offers free surgeries to troops

Associated Press

Last update: October 16, 2009 - 2:11 PM

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis eye surgeon is offering military members free corrective laser surgery worth $5,000.

Dr. Neal Sher has already helped more than 250 military men and women improve their vision. He donates his services and the Phillips Eye Institute donates the space.

He says a lot of people pay lip service to doing something to help the troops, and he wanted to do something more substantial.

Vision is an issue because many troops aren't allowed to wear contact lenses in the desert. They can wear glasses, but those can blow off, get dusty and fog up.

Sher's charity has caught the attention of Gen. David Petraeus. The head of U.S. Central Command has acknowledged Sher's work with a thank-you note.

Sher says he does the surgeries because his dad and other relatives are veterans.

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Information from: KSTP-TV, http://www.kstp.com

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