Almost anyone between the ages of 3 and 75 may be an eye donor. Unlike many other types of donation, the blood type of the donor does not need to match that of the recipient. In fact, more people are able to be eye donors than any other type of donation for transplant! Eye donor tissue that cannot be used for transplant can still, with consent, be used for medical education and research purposes.
Individuals who wear eyeglasses and contact lenses, or who have had previous eye surgery can still donate. Healthy cornea tissue from a person with poor eyesight still has the potential to provide improved vision to someone else. Cancer is not an automatic rule-out for eye donation.
The Eye-Bank conducts extensive screening of donor tissue to ensure it is safe and suitable for transplant.
Each eye, organ and tissue donor has the potential to restore sight to two people, save eight lives and help up to 75 people. Donations recovered for research are also invaluable in advancing treatments for eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and other diseases of the retina.
Click here for more answers to FAQs or call us at 212-742-9000.