- One donated eye can be used to save seven people’s sight.
- The gift of eye tissue donation is a powerful act that can restore vision and transform lives.
- The sclera is divided into six sections and used to support glaucoma patients when they have microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). During this type of surgery, a MIGS device is implanted to help with fluid drainage of the eye. Lions Eye Bank provides ophthalmologists with a one-sixth section of sclera (from donated eye tissue) to provide a ‘band-aid’ over the device.
- The rear portion of the eye is unsuitable for transplant, however, no part of a donated eye tissue goes to waste. With permission, this portion of the eye can be used for eye disease research.
The sclera is used as a ‘band aid’ over a MIGS device used in glaucoma surgery
- Corneal transplant is the most successful form of human transplantation.
- The cornea is only half a millimetre thick and has five layers. Surgery can now be conducted on just the diseased portion.
- It is the only part of the human body that has no blood supply.
- It is the fastest healing tissue in the human body.
