important facts about eye donation

• The first corneal transplant was performed in 1905. Today corneal transplantation is the most frequently performed transplant procedure.
• More than 51,000 corneal transplants were performed in the United States last year. Corneal transplants have been performed on patients ranging from one day to 103 years old.
• Eye donation is confidential. Specific information about the donor is not available to the recipient.The donor family will receive a letter of appreciation from the Cleveland Eye Bank. If a recipient wishes to thank the donor family, the eye bank will act as the intermediary.
• Eyes are recovered as soon as possible after death by specially trained technicians, so families may proceed with funeral arrangements as usual.
• Costs associated with the eye donation process are covered by the eye bank. Hospital and burial costs are the responsibility of the family.
• The care you receive as a hospital patient is not affected by your decision to be a donor. The first priority in a healthcare setting is to save your life, and strict laws are in place to protect the potential donor.
• Donation is consistent with the beliefs of most major religions. They support donation and consider it to be a great gift.