national eye donor month

Time to Celebrate Sight

By David W. Hearn, Illinois Eye-Bank
ach year, more than 25,000 Americans benefit from receiving an organ transplant, but did you know that more than twice that number benefit from another kind of transplant? Cornea transplants, which can restore sight to patients suffering from a variety of medical conditions, are the most common type of transplant. According to the Eye Bank Association of America, 47,361 cornea transplants were performed between January and September 2013. This month is the 31st annual recognition of National Eye Donor Month, which aims to increase awareness of the need for eye tissue donation for transplantation, research, and education. First established in 1983 by Ronald Reagan, this event commemorates the donors and families who make this mission possible and encourages everyone to join the donor registry and discuss their decision with their families. Cornea transplants would not be possible without the help of local eye banks, which recover, evaluate, and place tissue with surgeons and their patients. The Illinois Eye-Bank, which has locations in Chicago and Bloomington, is a nonprofit Terry and Sheila Walters, donor family members from Urbana, Illinois meet cornea organization dedicated to ensuring that corneal tissue is available to those in need. In 2013, Illinois transplant recipient, Cindy Loula, Bolingbrook, Illinois. Cindy received the gift of sight from Eye-Bank helped 2,171 patients receive a sightthe Walters son Caleb. To read more about their story, visit www. Illinoiseyebank.org. restoring transplant. In recognition of National Eye Donor Month, the and other sight disorders. Less than 10 percent of eye conditions can Illinois Eye-Bank answers some common questions related to eye be cured through corneal transplantation, making it essential that these donation and transplantation. studies advance the knowledge of causes and effects of specific eye conditions, leading to new treatments and cures. What is a Corneal Transplant? The cornea is the clear, dime-sized tissue found at the front of Is There a Waiting List for a Cornea Transplant? the eye. It functions like a window, allowing light to pass through the There is virtually no waiting list to schedule procedures. Corneal eye. When the cornea has been damaged by disease or injury, an tissue can be preserved for up to 14 days after donation; tissue is individual may require a corneal transplant using donor tissue. A cortypically transplanted within three to five days. neal surgeon will replace all or part of the cornea in what is usually an outpatient procedure. Patients will often begin to see improvements How Do I Sign Up to Be a Donor? in their vision within a few weeks. You can join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry at your local Entire eyes cannot be transplanted, but can be donated for clinical Secretary of State branch office or visit www.lifegoeson.com. Joining research. the registry is the only step necessary to consent to donation, but registered donors are encouraged to discuss their decision with family Who is Eligible to Donate Tissue? and loved ones. Everyone is a potential donor. Because of medical advancements, more people are eligible to donate tissue than ever before. Unlike The Illinois Eye-Bank, a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Bank, seeks to organ donations, corneal donations are universal and are not affected preserve and restore sight through transplantation, research, educaby blood type or eye color. tion, and partnership. This mission would not be possible without the generosity of eye tissue donors and their families, volunteers, and What Happens if Donated Tissue Cannot be Used for Transcharitable contributors. plantation? For more information about corneal transplantation or donation, Due to certain diseases, not all donated tissue can be used for visit www.illinoiseyebank.org. Keep up to date with news, events, transplantation; however, it can be donated to research. Each year, stories and more by liking us on Facebook and following us on more than 30,000 eyes are donated in the U.S. for research and eduTwitter @IllinoisEyeBank. cation involving glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration,
Page 50 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria March 2014