Transport & Processing

Removal of Donor Eyes

Eyes should be removed as soon as possible after death, and before the body is embalmed. Removal of donor eyes is performed by a trained enucleator (such as a certified embalmer, nurse, doctor, mortician, eye bank technician, or others completing the course offered by the eye bank each year).

Transport of Donor Eyes

Once the eyes are removed, they are transported by volunteer Lion Transport members (or, in some cases, the State Highway Patrol and local airlines) to the eye bank branch closest to the place of death. These transporters are called on at all hours, day or night, to assist the eye bank.

Processing Donor Eyes

1. The donated eyes must be processed as soon as possible after death.
   
   
2. Processing involves detailed analysis and microscopic evaluation of the donor eye tissue; removal of the cornea; determination of transplant potential; preservation of the sclera for use in scleral repairs and other procedures; and preparation of all other eye tissue for use in research.
   
   
3. Corneas that can be used for transplant are specially preserved, and the surgeon who is next on the Heartland Lions Eye Banks tissue rotation list is contacted.
   
   
4. The Heartland Lions Eye Banks technicians processing this valuable tissue have been rigorously trained, and have fulfilled requirements outlined by the Eye Bank Association of America.
   
   
5. Thanks to improved storage techniques, corneas may now be preserved up to two weeks before surgery is performed; only a decade ago, corneas had to be transplanted within two days.
   
   
6. The average wait today for a patient in need of a transplant is approximately 4 - 6 weeks. When eye banking originated, the average wait for a corneal transplant was up to a year or longer. Occasionally a patient may have to wait longer than average for a cornea, if their surgeon decides to request that additional criteria be met for a particular case.