Through another's eyes
Approximately 35 million people are blind or going blind worldwide. Fortunately, many can be cured.
Unfortunately, the number of people awaiting corneal transplants is outnumbering the available donor tissue. Corneal transplantation is the only effective restoration for the replacement of human tissue in the eye.
Eye donation is the oldest form of tissue and organ donation. It began back in 1905 with the very first corneal transplant.
Currently more than 46,000 corneas are transplanted yearly in the United States alone. This surgery is over 90 percent successful at restoring sight to the recipient.
The cornea is the clear outer portion of the eye that covers the pupil and the iris. It allows light to be transmitted through the eye to the retina.
If the cornea is cloudy or damaged, it can greatly interfere with a person's ability to see - regardless of whether or not they are wearing glasses or contact lenses.
The cornea can de damaged in a number of ways.
Severe scarring may result from injury, inappropriate contact lens use, or severe dry eye syndrome.
Diseases such as herpes simplex and herpes zoster (shingles) can cause scarring if not treated early and properly.
A chronic swelling of the cornea from Fuch's corneal dystrophy or bullous keratopathy can lead to a cloudy cornea and therefore a decreased visual acuity.
One of the most common indications for a corneal transplant is a diagnosis of keratoconus.
Keratoconus and keratoglobus are diseases that cause a progressive thinning of the cornea. This causes a reshaping in the cornea that leads to distorted vision. Keratoconus may become painful and interfere with a person's ability to wear contact lenses. Replacing the diseased cornea with donor tissue restores the health and vision of the eye.
Eye donors can be of any age, race, and gender. They can have a history of wearing glasses and/or contact lenses, or even prior cataract surgery.
A medical history of diabetes or hypertension is also allowed. For further information on becoming an eye donor, please talk to your eye doctor.
One of the best gifts a person can receive is that of sight.