Human organ and tissue transplantation has become an important and growing part of modern medical practice. Advances in medical technology have resulted in millions of Americans receiving these life-saving or life-enhancing gifts. Eye banks can provide the most precious gifts of the world that is the gift of vision.

N.C. Eye Bank has the distinction of being the provider of most corneas in the world. Eye Bank Association of America reports that the NC based organization provided corneas for 3,440 transplants in 2008; the most of any eye bank in the world.

Eye banks make these transplants possible by processing donated corneas and supplying them to surgeons. According to Bob Russ, the eye bank's director of human resources, the expansion of opportunities to sign up for organ donation is one of the reasons why more people have agreed to be donors.
When a potential donor dies, the eye bank's clock starts ticking.
According to a recent report from Donate Life America people can sign up to be donors through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles when getting or renewing their driver's license.
Under the new State Law that passed last year the heart symbol on someone's driver's license is considered binding consent to donate organs, including eye tissue. Before the law was passed, such groups as the eye bank had to get permission from the family to get eye tissue.

How to donate?
• In North Carolina, people can sign up to be organ donors through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. The licenses of those who are donors are marked with a heart.
• Donors should tell their family members about their wishes.
• Corneas to be used in a transplant, must be stored within 24 hours of the donor's death.
• In eye-tissue donations, disease, injury or infection in eyes disqualifies them for transplantation, but they can still be used for education and research purposes.
For more information about eye donation, you may call or visit the N.C.Eye Bank at 765-0932 or go to www.nceyebank.org

Posted in: corneal donor, eye bank, organ transplant