Donation Facts

• Donor eye tissue that is retrieved, processed and distributed by the Heartland Lions Eye Banks restores sight at the rate of 5 people a day.
• Almost anyone between the ages of 2 and 79 can be an eye donor.
• Legal next-of-kin of the potential donor must give consent before donor tissue can be retrieved, even if a donor card was signed by the deceased. An exception to this requirement would be made if the deceased had an advanced directive with the power of attorney specifying organ, tissue and eye donation decisions.
• Under the following conditions, donation cannot occur: HIV or AIDS, Active Hepatitis, Active Syphilis, Rabies, Viral Encephalitis, or Active Meningitis.
• The cornea is the most commonly used part of the eye in transplant surgery. However, the sclera, or white protective part of the eye, can be preserved and used to repair another patient's sclera, eardrum, nasal septum or gums.
• The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), under the Department of Health and Human Services, passed a federal regulation in 1998 requiring hospitals to notify organ banks each time a death occurs in the hospital. If hospitals do not comply with this regulation, they could lose their Medicare funding.
• Over 90 percent of corneal transplants are successful.
• Most major religions support organ, tissue and eye donation.