Thanks to the generosity of eye donors, The Eye-Bank of New York provides cornea tissue for over one thousand sight-restoring corneal transplants each year. We also supply tissue to a variety of researchers who are developing new treatments and cures of blinding eye disease like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, two of the leading causes of vision loss in individuals over the age of 50. The Eye-Bank is dedicated to helping cure blindness by placing tissues that meet specific criteria with researchers at the forefront of developing new ways to combat the progression of eye diseases for which there is currently no cure.
Many current research efforts require ocular tissue provided by eye donors who were diagnosed with eye disease and other conditions that are known to contribute to vision loss. According to Eye-Bank Research and Relationship Development Manager YoneJung Yoon, Ph.D., “A number of Eye-Bank collaborators are researching how metabolic diseases like diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia affect eye health.” Under the direction of Dr. Yoon, The Eye-Bank’s Research Program has grown to include the distribution of donor eye tissue for eye disease pathology and pharmacology research and for the development of new drug therapies.
Eye-Bank Laboratory Director Hortense Kendall studies eye donor tissue through our specular microscope.
The Eye-Bank encourages all New Yorkers to sign up in the New York State Donate Life Registry, especially those diagnosed with eye diseases like AMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma as their gifts may help others who suffer from the same conditions in the future. Additionally, New Yorkers who are older than 75 years who wish to be a donor for research purposes, should inform their Healthcare Agent or Next of Kin to notify The Eye-Bank when their death occurs. Our trained family support staff will be able to obtain a telephone consent and complete the donation once we receive the call. For more information, contact The Eye-Bank at info@ebsr.org or call 212-742-9000 with any questions.
Research and Relationship Development Manager YoneJung Yoon, Ph.D., evaluates eye tissue in our ocular laboratory.
