Lions Eye Bank

*Idaho* *Lions Eye Bank*

*From Darkness to Light Through Sight*

*Give the Gift of Sight*
	1055 N. Curtis Boise, ID 83706
	(800) LION-889

The Idaho Lions Eye Bank is an association composed of the Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation and St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. It is known as "Idaho Lions Eye Bank", and was established in 1985. The Operating Committee of the Bank is composed of eleven members; six chosen by the Foundation and five from St. Alphonsus Medical Center.

The Eye Bank is a member of the Eye Bank Association of America, The Association sets a high standard of quality control for over 120 Eye Banks world wide.

The purpose of the Eye Bank is to obtain, medically evaluate, and process eye tissue. The cornea is placed in a solution that will keep the tissue viable for 14 days. Transplants generally take place within seven days. When tissue can not be used for transplant, it is used for research and education.

With new microsurgical techniques and medications, corneal transplantation surgery has become 95% successful. The Cornea, is the clear window on the front part of the eye. Light must first pass the cornea. When scarred and/or diseased, the cornea will experience reduced vision or blindness. Last year, over 47,000 transplants took place in North America, Before the Eye Bank, the demand for donor corneal tissue was far outpacing the supply. The success of the program has been phenomenal, reducing the transplant waiting time by 75%. This program has had a major impact on the citizens of the communities in which we live, and has provided for many touching and heartwarming memories for Lions Club Members who have become involved in this worthwhile project. We still have a great deal of progress that we can make. You can help by signing an Eye Donor Card and by encouraging others to do the same. Talk to your family about donation, and give the gift of sight.

The Eye Bank is only one phase of the Lions Eye Program. The Idaho Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation is a non-profit organization working to save and restore people's sight and rehabilitate those who are afflicted with permanent darkness.

The cornea is the clear front "window" to the eye through which light passes. The normal cornea is completely transparent living tissue. Due to injury or disease, the cornea may become damaged and opaque (place cursor over image). Light may no longer effectively pass through the damaged cornea resulting in diminished vision. A corneal transplantation procedure may be indicated.

1. Damaged cornea	2. White arrow shows opaque, damaged cornea.
3. Round shaped portion of damaged cornea removed	4. A donor button of clear cornea is replaced.

The cornea is the clear, living tissue on the very front part of the eye. Light passes through the clear cornea on its path toward the retina in the back part of the eye. Sometimes, the cornea is referred to as the "window" to the eye. Occasionally, either through disease or injury, the corneal tissue is damaged to a point where light can no longer effectively pass through it, resulting in reduced vision. Where indicated by an ophthalmologist, a corneal transplant procedure may be performed which replaces the damaged cornea with a clear donor cornea. This is an extremely delicate microsurgical procedure. The procedure first involves removal of a round, button-shaped shaped portion of the damaged cornea. Then, a clear donor cornea, prepared to the same size, is replaced within the round opening. Finally, this donor cornea is stitched into place with extremely fine sutures.