Page 4 - Lions Gift of Sight Today

“In building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s.”
— Lions Clubs International Code of Ethics
Lions Eye Banks & the Barcelona Principles
Lions Gift of Sight was founded as an eye bank firmly rooted in the Lions’ tradition of service to the community and dedication to helping the sight-impaired. As a Lions eye bank, we must follow Lions Clubs International Eye Bank Program Guidelines, adhere to the Lions Code of Ethics, and subscribe to the Barcelona Principles. What might that mean? Here are a few highlights.
• Lions eye banks encourage, promote, improve, and establish Lions eye banking internationally, so that quality eye tissue for corneal transplants, research, and other medical purposes may be provided. They publicize the role and service of eye banks.
• The Lions Code of Ethics was established from a business point of view, and Lions club members pledge to accept no profit or success at the price of their own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts. They give sympathy to those in distress, aid to the weak, and substance to the needy.
• The Barcelona Principles are an agreement on the use of human donated tissue for ocular transplantation, research, and future technologies. The Principles are put out by the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations, an internationally-recognized association that supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Initiative for Medical Products of Human Origin, and the WHO Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation.
Lions Clubs International Foundation Grant
The M Health Fairview Lions Eye
Surgery Center recently benefit-
ed from a $100,000 Lions Clubs
International Foundation matching
grant. Thanks to LCIF, the Minne-
sota Lions Vision Foundation, and
Minnesota Lions club members, the
center received a Spectralis Flex
HRA+OCT2, an amazing piece of
equipment that allows doctors to
obtain intra-operative images of the
retina. Using these images, surgeons
can determine the effect of sur-
gery before concluding a procedure,
thus reducing the need for a second
surgery at a later date. This Spec-
tralis Flex is the first in an operat-
ing room in the United States.
LCIF matching grants support the ef-
forts of Lions clubs and partners to
serve communities locally and glob-
ally. The foundation holds a 4-star
rating from Charity Navigator.
LIONS GIFT OF SIGHT (LGS) is a community-based non-profit eye bank. Founded in 1960, it is the oldest donation organization in Minnesota. LGS serves the needs of donors and recipients in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North Dakota, as well as Galveston, Texas, 24 hours-a- day, 365 days-a-year. LGS distributes corneas for transplant and eyes and corneas for research and medical education.
With a stringent eye bank quality assurance program that audits all aspects of operations, LGS upholds the highest tissue quality standards. LGS is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America, inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, and follows OSHA and University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research guidelines. LGS is a proud part of the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
4 Lions Gift of Sight