History of Lions Eye Banking Jeffrey G. Penta, MBA, CEBT San Diego Eye Bank Hawai’i Lions Eye Bank & Makana Foundation ALOHA!
Sight is beautiful
Sight is magical
A lack of sight…….
History of Lions Eye Banks First Lions Eye Banks Growth of Eye Banking Lions Eye Banks Today Importance of Sight-Saving Services
Origins of Eye Banking The first human transplant was a cornea transplant December 1905: Dr Eduard Zirm in Austria It still continues to be one of the most successful organ/tissue transplantations
First Cornea Transplant Donor: Karl Brauer 11 years old, bicycle accident Could not save his eyes Dr Zirm enucleated the damaged eyes Corneal tissue removed for transplantation into recipient eyes
First Cornea Transplant Recipient: Alois Gloger 43 years old, a laborer Blinded in an accident while working with lime Back working within three months of transplant One transplant failed, but he retained sight in other eye for the rest of his life
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, USA. She challenged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness”
World’s First Eye Bank 1944 R. Townley Paton, MD Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, New York City Staten Island Central Lions Club 1945: Buffalo, New York Lions Eye Bank & Research Society
Eye Bank Association of America Established in 1961 37 members
EBAA Chair of the Board (1961-2016)
Without Lions Eye Banks would not exist Eye Banking = Lions Without Lions Eye Banks would not exist
2014 Eye Banking Data United States 128,675 corneas recovered in U.S. last year 72,000 corneas for transplant 26,000 corneas for research/education 1,250,000 million corneas provided for transplant in the past 25 years
209 corneas transplanted each day
209 corneas transplanted each day
BUT……………the need Large need for eye banks and corneal tissue EBAA EEBA China: over 2.5 million India: over 1.1 million rest of world??? EBAA EEBA EBAANZ 93,000 per year (39 years)
San Diego Vietnamese Lions Club (2008) Collaborative effort of: San Diego Vietnamese Lions Club San Diego Executive Lions Club Poway Lions Club Poway Lions Medical/Educational Foundation Sponsoring: cataract surgeries cornea transplants eye care training
2011 Additional collaboration with Shiley Eye Center and San Diego Eye Bank
Ho Chi Minh City Eye Bank & Ho Chi Minh City Lions Club March 2011
Ho Chi Minh City Eye Bank & Ho Chi Minh City Lions Club March 2011 286 cataract surgeries, 6 cornea transplants
Idaho Lions Eye Bank Panelist: Lion Jay Lugo
Florida Lions Eye Bank Panelist: Lion Elizabeth Fout-Caraza
Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley Panelist: Lion Jim Quirk
Closing Remarks Jeff Penta, Moderator What did we learn? Where do we go from here?
Mahalo!