Page 12 - Donor and Family Recognition Program 2022

What is an eye bank?
Eye Bank FAQ’s
An eye bank is the link between people who donate their eyes and people who help restore sight. Eye banks obtain, medically evaluate, and distribute eyes and corneas for use in transplantation, research, and education.
Can the whole eye be transplanted?
No. At this time, only the cornea or sclera can be transplanted. The entire eye can be used for research and education.
What is the cornea?
The cornea is the clear tissue in the front of the eye. It is the main focusing element of the eye. Should the cornea become cloudy from disease, infection, or injury, vision would be dramatically reduced.
What is a cornea transplant?
A cornea transplant is the surgical procedure that replaces an unhealthy cornea with a healthy donor cornea. Corneas can be damaged by: bacterial, fungal, or viral infections; by inherited and degenerative diseases; or by chemical burns, scratches, and other traumatic injuries.
How common are cornea transplants?
Nationwide, nearly 50,000 corneal transplants are performed each year. Corneas have been transplanted to patients ranging in age from only a few days to 103 years old.
How soon after a donation must a cornea be transplanted?
A cornea is usually transplanted within three to seven days of donation.
Why donate for research?
Research is the key to eliminating worldwide blindness. Hundreds of researchers use donated eye tissue in the quest to prevent, treat, or cure eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa.
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