FAQs
What is a cornea and how do
cornea transplants restore sight?
Who can donate eyes?
How can I donate my eyes?
Is there a cost to donate?
Would donating delay funeral arrangements?
Can we have an open casket?
Does my religion support eye, organ and tissue donation?
Is cancer a rule-out for donation?
If I wear glasses can I still donate?
Are families told who will receive the donation?
Can the family designate a recipient?
What kind of research is done with eye donations?
How long do recipients usually wait for a cornea?
How long can a cornea be stored?
What happens to unused tissue?
What is a cornea and how do cornea transplants
restore sight?
The cornea is a clear dime-sized tissue that covers
the front of the eye. If the cornea becomes clouded through disease
or injury, vision is impaired and sometimes lost entirely.
The only substitute for a human cornea is another
human cornea donated at death by someone who thus leaves a living
legacy.
Who can donate eyes?
Almost everyone can donate his or her eyes. Donor
tissue that can’t be used for transplant can, with consent,
be used for medical education and research purposes.
How can I donate my eyes?
There are two very important steps you must take
to become a donor. First, sign a donor
card and carry it with you. Second, TALK
TO YOUR FAMILY. You must let you family members know that
you wish to be an eye donor. Unless your donor card is available
at the time of death, your next of kin will be responsible for granting
consent. It can be a difficult decision for them if your wishes
are not known. Having a discussion about donation with your family
is the first step in the effort to restore sight and save lives.
Is there a cost to donate?
There is no cost to donate. Transplant agencies
pay any costs associated with recovery of organs and tissues from
donors.
Would donating delay funeral
arrangements?
Donating should not delay funeral arrangements.
It may take additional time, usually no more than four hours, to
coordinate the donation process with the funeral home, and for any
extra efforts taken to prepare the body for presentation.
Can we have an open casket?
Eye donation should not prevent having an open casket
service.
Does my religion support eye,
organ and tissue donation?
All major religions support donation. However, if
you have concerns about your religion’s position, please get
in touch with your religious leader/representative.
Is cancer a rule-out for donation?
No, cancer does not automatically prohibit eye donation.
If I wear glasses can I still
donate?
Yes, you can! People who have poor vision and wear
glasses, or have had previous eye diseases or surgery can still
donate, since these conditions may not affect the cornea. Eyes donated
to The Eye-Bank that are not medically suitable for transplant may
be used for medical research and education. For example if you have
had LASIK surgery you can donate for research and medical education
purposes.
Are families told who will
receive the donation?
It is Eye-Bank policy to keep donor and recipient
identities completely confidential. However, certain information
can be shared and The Eye-Bank offers to conduct correspondence
between donor families and recipients as long as identities are
kept anonymous. Recipients especially are encouraged to send thank-you
notes to their donor families through The Eye-Bank. Click
here to learn how to write your donor family.
Can the family designate a
recipient?
It is possible to designate a recipient although
it is fairly unlikely that a donation would occur in a timely manner
to facilitate a needed transplant. However, if at the time of death
a family member is in need of a cornea transplant then The Eye-Bank
will make every effort to match the donor tissue with that person.
What kind of research is done
with eye donations?
Research into diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma
and diseases of the retina are advanced through eye donation. Read
more about our research efforts in our Research
section.
How long do recipients usually
wait for a cornea?
Cornea transplant surgery is typically an elective
procedure allowing the surgeon and patient to choose the most convenient
day for the surgery to take place. The need for emergency tissue
is met within 24 hours.
How long can a cornea be stored?
The Eye-Bank does keep a “bank” of tissue
in its laboratory. Fortunately, cornea tissue can be preserved and
stored for several days before it must be used for transplant. However,
since the demand for ocular tissue is so great most donor tissue
is distributed within a day or two after its arrival.
What happens to unused tissue?
Tissue not used for transplantation or research
is disposed of in an ethical manner.
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