Eye bank

Eye banks recover, prepare and deliver donated eyes for cornea transplants and research. The first successful cornea transplant was performed in 1905 and the first eye bank was founded in 1944. Currently, in the United States, eye banks provide tissue for over 80,000 cornea transplants each year[1] to treat conditions such as keratoconus[2] and corneal scarring. In some cases, the white of the eye (sclera) is used to surgically repair recipient eyes. Unlike other organs and tissues, corneas are in adequate supply for transplants in the United States, and excess tissue is exported internationally,[3] where there are shortages in many countries, due to greater demand and a less-developed eye banking infrastructure.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference BankFAQs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Romero-Jiménez, M.; Santodomingo-Rubido, J.; Wolffsohn, J. S. (2010). "Keratoconus: A review". Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. 33 (4): 157–166, quiz 166. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.04.006. PMID 20537579.
  3. ^ "2009 Eye Banking Statistical Report" (PDF). Eye Bank Association of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2013-01-23.