Every November, we observe Eye Donation Month to bring awareness to the gift of sight and honor the heroic donors who make this possible for grateful recipients all around the world. For the 2024 theme, the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) decided to use the lyrics to the iconic 1972 Johnny Nash song, “I Can See Clearly Now.” It emphasizes the literal outcome of eye donation, which is a recipient’s ability to see. It also highlights the figurative outcome of what people experience or “see now” as a heroic donor’s courageous family, recipient or even a champion of eye donation. When you combine both of these elements, actual vision and the metaphorical ability to see a new perspective of life, makes this song a memorable backdrop for this year’s observance. We are honored to help EBAA spread the word about the transformative power of corneal donation and transplantation.
What is cornea donation?
Around the world, an estimated 12 million people suffer from corneal blindness. Their vision can be restored through the ultimate gift, a cornea transplant provided by a heroic donor. This transplant procedure involves replacing the diseased or scarred cornea with a healthy cornea from someone who has passed away. Currently, there are no other options to restore sight in this way-- only a tissue donation from a heroic donor can give someone their vision back. The entire cornea donation process starts with an individual’s generous decision to become a heroic organ, eye and tissue donor. Then, an EBAA certified eye bank will facilitate the life transforming process of cornea transplantation through an eye surgeon.
What is an eye bank?
An eye bank is a facility that changes lives by restoring sight to their local communities and around the world. They manage the cornea donation process by providing ocular tissue for transplant, research and education. EBAA accredited eye banks are non-profit organizations that obtain, medically evaluate and distribute ocular tissue donated by heroic donors they serve. In the United States, EBAA eye banks provide tissue for more than 85,000 sight-restoring corneal transplants on average each year. Nevada Donor Network’s eye bank is honored to hold an EBAA certification and be a member of this association.
We could not end this blog without sharing the story of a heroic donor we had the honor of serving. Meet Nancy. Her loving husband Kevin shared, “I feel gratitude for experiencing true love with Nancy for over 21 years. On October 1, 2018, cancer entered our lives. Through all of her medical procedures, infusion and surgeries, she never lost her ability to see the brightness in life. She continued to live. As much as she fought, she continued to live on like she was going to live forever. We did so much together and as a family. Nancy went to heaven on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Cancer did not touch her mind, it did not touch her heart and it did not touch her soul. Nancy lived by many principles to guide her through life and the one that stands out is, "The secret to living is giving!” One example of this is during her battle with cancer, she signed up to assist the blind with phone calls, but the most profound gift came after her passing. Unbeknownst to me, in December of 2022, Nancy signed up to be a heroic organ, eye and tissue donor in the event that she passed away. The night of her passing, I received a call from the Nevada Donor Network informing me that Nancy signed up to be a heroic donor and she was able to give the gift of sight to others in desperate need. I was speechless of the selfless gift she gave. Now, two people will be able to see because of Nancy.” 
Inspired to give the ultimate gift? Be a hero like Nancy now!
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