Every day there are more and more people who cannot see the beauty of a sunset or the smile on a child’s face. Through the generosity of cornea donors and the process of corneal donation and transplantation, their hope to see again becomes a reality.

There is no substitute for human corneal tissue. Therefore, cornea transplantation depends on the availability of donated corneas. Like organs and other tissue, corneas are donated after death, and the consent of the donor’s next of kin is required. Donated corneas are provided to ophthalmologists, usually in the donor’s home community or region.

Donated corneas are removed as soon as possible after death by skilled medical technicians in sterile, hospital conditions. In most cases, only the cornea is removed—not the whole eye. Great care is taken to preserve the appearance of the donor, and cornea donation almost never interferes with funeral arrangements, including open-casket services.

How can you help?
As a hospice professional, you can offer the opportunity for a grieving family to gain comfort by giving them the chance to donate their loved one’s corneas. Many times knowing that “The Gift of Sight” helped someone regain his or her life is of great condolence.

When a cornea donor dies in a hospice, not a hospital, there are no laws requiring that the hospice report the death so that the donor may be prepared and the family contacted for consent. Alternatively, a patient may decide before death occurs that they want to donate. In this case, a consent form may be signed by the donor and their next of kin and then kept on file for when death occurs. In any event, since cornea removal procedure will most likely be performed at a funeral home, we recommend that you notify the home that you patient is a donor and that thy should not be embalmed until after cornea removal has taken place.

Who can donate?
Almost anyone can become a cornea donor. Persons who wear corrective lenses or those with macular degeneration, glaucoma, blindness, or diabetes can all donate. Cancer patients can also become cornea corneal donors.

Who cannot donate?
Persons who cannot become cornea donors include those with active viral hepatitis, organic brain disease, or HIV/AIDS.

For more information on corneal donation and transplantation:

Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank
2346 Jacksonville Road
Bethlehem, PA 18107

1-800-NE-PA-EYE (637-2393) • 610-625-3800
Fax: 610-625-0333 • E-Mail: info@PaEyeBank.org