Donor Awareness

The cornea is the clear outer covering of the eye located directly over the iris. Corneal transplantation can significantly improve the vision of patients experiencing diminished corneal clarity caused by an injury or a disease process that becomes severe.

A corneal transplant is the replacement of an injured or diseased cornea with a donor cornea. Donor corneas come from individuals who have died and donated their corneas or their whole eyes.

Over 40,000 corneas are distributed for transplantation by U.S. eye banks each year. The Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine distributes tissue to surgeons for their patients according to a strict protocol that ensures fairness and equitability.

As the demand for corneal transplants increases each year, it is more important than ever to raise awareness of the importance of becoming a donor. Sign a donor card today. Talk with your family about your desire to donate your corneas.