1. Who can be a donor?

Anyone. Cataracts, poor eyesight or age do not prohibit you from becoming a donor. Prospective donors should indicate their intention on donor cards and driver's licenses. It is important for individuals wanting to be donors to inform family members of their wishes to help ensure that their desires are fulfilled.

2. Am I too old/young to be an eye donor?

No. There is generally a use for eyes of any age. Please give the eye bank a chance to use your eyes for research/transplantation.

3. I have cancer. May I still be an eye donor.

Yes. Most forms of cancer do not preclude use of donor corneas for transplantation.

4. Does it matter if the donor wears glasses or has other eye problems?

No. Previous eye surgery or diseases of the eye do not automatically disqualify donation.

5. Are there religious objections to eye, organ or tissue donations?

No. Donation is an opportunity to help save a life or restore someone's sight. As such, eye, organ and tissue donation are consistent with beliefs and attitudes of major religions.

6. How great is the need for corneas?

Although more than 42,000 corneal transplants were performed in North America in 1995, the need for corneal tissue is never satisfied. To date, the use of artificial tissue for transplantation has been unsuccessful.

7. How are donor eyes obtained?

Eyes are donated by individuals like yourself--with the donation going into effect at the time of death. In NC you can obtain an organ donor card from a NC Drivers License Office, the NC Eye Bank, or a member of your local Lions Club. In other states, you may contact an eye or tissue bank or a local Lions Club for information. Human eyes,organs or tissue may neither be bought or sold in the USA.

8. Does it cost the donor family to donate eyes?

It costs the donor family nothing to donate eyes, organs or tissue. The retrieving eye, organ or tissue organization pays the entire cost. The donor family receives no reimbursement--it is illegal to buy or sell human eyes, organs or tissue in the USA.

9. Will the quality of medical treatment be affected if one is a known donor?

Absolutely not! Strict laws are in existence which protect the potential donor. Legal guidelines must be followed before death can be certified. The physician certifying a patient's death cannot be involved in any way with the eye procurement or with the transplant.

10. Will eye donation affect the appearance of the donor?

No. Great care is taken to preserve the appearance of the donor. No one will be able to see that anything has been done. Families may proceed with funeral arrangements, including a viewing if so desired.

11. Does eye donation affect funeral arrangements?

No. Eye tissue procurement is performed within hours after death. Families may proceed normally with funeral arrangements.

12. May we still have an open casket funeral after eye donation?

Yes. The eye socket is filled with a prosthesis, the eye lids closed, and the donor has a natural appearance.

13. Will the recipient be told who donated the cornea or the donor family told the identity of the recipient?

No. The Gift of Sight is made anonymously. Specific information about the donor or donor family is not made available to the recipient. Specific recipient information is not made available to the donor family. A recipient or donor family may correspond anonymously through The NC Eye Bank.

14. What do I need to do to become a donor?

Most importantly, tell your family of your wishes. Most states (including NC) require that families be offered the option of donation at the time of death of a loved one. Families may give consent for donation. It is most helpful if they know how you feel. You also need to complete the block on your driver's license and carry a donor card. Donor cards are available from The NC Eye Bank or any Lions Club member.

15. Should eye donation be included in a will?

No. The eyes must be procured long before a will can be probated. However, the time of making a will is a good time to discuss eye, organ and tissue donation with family members. The discussion with your next-of-kin and signing a donor card are the most important factors in making sure your wishes are respected.

16. Is the whole eye transplanted?

No. Only the cornea may be transplanted. The white portion of the eye is the sclera. It may be preserved and used in some types of surgery, especially as a bandage on burned or damaged eyes or to pad artificial eyes to prevent chafing and irritation. The preserved sclera is not living tissue. Other parts of the eye may be used by researchers to learn more about the cause, treatment, and prevention of eye disease and problems.

17. What is the cornea?

The cornea is the clear surface at the front of the eye. It is the main focusing element of the eye. Should the cornea become cloudy from disease, injury, infection or any other cause, vision will be dramatically reduced.

18. What causes corneal disease and degeneration?

Infections, whether bacterial, fungal or viral are frequent causes of sever corneal damage ulceration. Abnormal steepening of the cornea (keratoconus), degeneration occasionally following cataract surgery (corneal edema or swelling), and some aging processes can also affect the clarity and the health of the cornea. Some disorders of the cornea are inherited and can lead to corneal clouding and the loss of sight.

19. What can cause corneal injury?

Knives, pencils and other sharp objects can cause severe injury to the cornea. Fireworks, exploding batteries and toxic chemicals, especially alkalis, can also result in severe scarring of the cornea. In fact, protection of the cornea is the reason emergency washing of the eye is absolutely necessary when the eye is exposed to toxic chemicals. Most corneal injuries are preventable with protective glasses and proper precautions when dealing with hazardous substances.

20. What is a corneal transplant?

A corneal transplant is the surgical procedure which replaces a disk-shaped segment of an impaired cornea with a similarly shaped piece of a healthy donor cornea. More than 90 percent of corneal transplant operations successfully restore the corneal recipient's vision.

21. How prevalent is corneal transplantation?

Corneal transplants are the most frequently performed human transplant procedure. In 1995, there were more corneal transplants than all organ transplants combined. In the last 50 years, more than 450,000 corneal transplants have been performed, restoring sight to men, women and children ranging in age from 9 days to 103 years.

22. How soon after a donation must a cornea be transplanted?

A corneal transplant is usually performed with three to seven days after donation, depending upon the method of preservation used, the completion of serological testing and locating a suitable recipient.

23. What happens if the corneas are not suitable for transplant?

All donors and eyes are carefully evaluated. Should the corneas be determined unsuitable for transplant, they can be used for research and education.

24. How do research and education benefit from eye donation?

In addition to corneas used for surgical procedures, more than 35,000 eyes are used annually for research and education. Research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders, benefits from donations because many eye problems cannot be simulated. These studies advance the discovery of the causes and effects of specific eye conditions which leads to new treatments and cures.

25. What does an eye bank do?

An eye bank is a non-profit organization which obtains, medically evaluates, processes, and distributes eyes donated by caring individuals for use in corneal transplantation, research, and education.

26. How is The N. C. Eye Bank financed?

The N. C. Eye Bank is a non-profit charitable corporation. The funds for operating The N. C. Eye Bank come from various fees charged for some services (under compliance with federal law, The N. C. Eye Ba nk neither sells nor buys human eyes), contributions and memorials from individuals and organizations, and grants from organizations. The North Carolina Lions Foundation, Lions District 31, and individual NC Lions Clubs contribute greatly to The N. C. Eye Bank with both money and people power. The N. C. Eye Bank receives neither federal nor state support. Contributions and memorials are federal and state tax deductible.

27. How old is The N. C. Eye Bank?

The N. C. Eye Bank, Inc. was incorporated in North Carolina on October 2, 1951. It is one of the oldest eye banks in the world.