Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Donation

and Corneal Transplantation

Q. Who can be an eye donor?
A. Almost everyone. Cataracts, poor eyesight, or cancer do not necessarily prohibit someone from becoming an eye donor.
Q. Why should eyes be donated?
A. To help give sight to another person. There is no substitute for donated human eyes for the preservation and restoration of sight.
Q. What is an eye bank?
A. An eye bank is the link between people who donate their eyes and people who help restore sight. Eye banks obtain, medically evaluate and distribute eyes that are donated by humanitarian-minded people for use in transplantation, research, and education.
Q. Can the whole eye be transplanted?
A. No. At this time, only the cornea or sclera can be transplanted. The entire eye can be used for research and education.
Q. What is the cornea?
A. The cornea is the clear tissue in the front of the eye. It is the main focusing element of the eye. Should the cornea become cloudy from disease, infection, or injury, vision would be dramatically reduced.
Q. What is a cornea transplant?
A. A cornea transplant is the surgical procedure that replaces an unhealthy cornea with a healthy donor cornea. More than 90 percent of corneal transplant operations are successful, making this operation the most successful transplant procedure that exists.
Q. How common are cornea transplants?
A. A cornea transplant is one of the most frequently performed human transplants. Nationwide, more than 33,000 corneal transplants are done each year. Corneas have been transplanted to patients ranging in age from only a few days to 103 years old.
Q. How soon after a donation must a cornea be transplanted?
A. A cornea is usually transplanted within three to seven days of donation.
Q. How does eye donation benefit research and education?
A. More than 23,000 eyes are used in the U.S. annually for research and education. Research leads to new treatments and cures. Without eyes donated for research, thousands more would still be blind.
Q. Will the donor’s family have to pay any additional expenses related to donation?
A. No. Donor families are not responsible for costs related to the recover of organs, tissues, or eyes.
Q. Is there any delay in funeral arrangements?
A. No. Eye donation normally occurs within six hours of death. Donation organizations work closely with family members and funeral directors to ensure the family's needs are met for funeral services.
Q. Will eye donation prevent an open-casket reviewal?
A. No. Eye donation techniques should not prevent open casket reviewals. The eye bank works closely with organ and tissue organizations and funeral directors to respectfully care for the deceased person’s body.
Q. Will the recipients or donor families be told who donated the corneas?
A. No. The gift of sight is made anonymously and remains confidential unless both the donor family and recipient document a request to be identified to each other.
Q. Will eye donation affect the appearance of the donor?
A. Bruising and swelling around the eye area may occur; however, a donor’Äôs appearance is rarely changed. A skilled professional performs a surgical eye- or cornea-removal procedure, which is designed to maintain the natural appearance of the donor.
Q. Is a signed donor card or "donor" on my driver’Äôs license enough to ensure that I will be a donor?
A. Yes. A donor card or an indication on a driver’s license is legally binding, but please tell your family your wishes as well. They will be a part of the donation process.
Q. Are all donor corneas suitable for transplantation?
A. No. The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank routinely recovers research eye tissue; so about one-half of the donated eyes received by the eye bank are designated for transplantation. Eyes used for research and for teaching advance the knowledge of the causes of specific eye conditions and lead to new treatments and cures.
Q. How does donation help the donor’s family?

A. While individuals cope with loss in different ways, many donor families find that focusing on donation and the gifts of sight and life gives them comfort during grief.

”Donation was the first in a series of decisions which proved to be empowering. We created an atmosphere in which many positive things could occur by refusing to let death be the final comment on David’s life.” -Mother of a 26-year-old donor