Gratis Tissue Policy

Policy:

The Lions Eye Bank of Texas, with the support of the Lions Clubs along the Texas Gulf Coast, annually provides corneal tissue for needy patients at reduced or no direct charge.

The Lions Eye Bank of Texas gratis tissue fund was established for needy patients along the Texas Gulf Coast in areas regularly served by the Lions Eye Bank of Texas (areas of service include Nacogdoches, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Victoria, Harlingen, and the Rio Grande Valley).

Procedure:

• The surgeon must submit a request to the Lions Eye Bank of Texas before the scheduled surgery date. The request can be faxed to 713-798-4645, mailed, or placed online at www.bayloreye.org/eyebank. All requests must be approved by the Board of Trustees prior to tissue shipment.



• The request must include the reason why the patient needs gratis tissue, (e.g. no health insurance, unemployed due to low visual acuity, etc.). Visual acuity, aided and unaided, must be provided.



• Both the corneal surgeon and patient must reside within the service area for the Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine (or within the four Lions Districts that support the LEBT). Those corneal surgeons and patients residing outside the service area will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.



• The patient shall preferably be a U.S. resident; however, the reviewers may consider non-U.S. residents when the surgeon is performing the transplant in Texas.



• Both the surgeon and the surgery center must agree, in writing, to waive all fees.



• Gratis tissue is limited based on the availability of funds and tissue. Each surgeon will be limited to 1 request per month, not to exceed 2 requests per year. The Lions may approve 2 requests per quarter, or a total of 8 requests per year.
  

Apply for Gratis Tissue