Gift of Sight
Every year, thousands of people in the U.S. are affected by a treatable form of blindness, and through the gracious decision to donate, these individuals gain the priceless and life-changing gift of sight. Choosing to become a donor is choosing to help eliminate corneal blindness.
Donor Heroes
Cornea transplants happen because generous donors make their tissue available after they are gone. These precious gifts can restore sight and provide clarity and focus to those who have been suffering in darkness and pain. Like a single drop of water can start a ripple effect, we honor and remember all cornea donors for their compassion and care in providing the gift of sight to those in need.
Gift of Sight Memorial Quilts
CorneaGen’s memorial quilt project is an opportunity to honor and remember cornea donors who have made the Gift of Sight possible for those suffering in darkness. Each unique square is created and submitted by donor families to memorialize their loved one and displayed as a visual reminder to those who have selflessly given of themselves so others can see.
Gift of Sight Correspondence
Donor families and recipients often find comfort and healing in hearing from each other. A simple card, thank you note, or letter can be uplifting to the donor family and reassure them that they made a wonderful decision to help others in the midst of their grief. Writing a brief note to the donor family is a simple act that can provide a strong sense of well-being for the recipient. Recipients may benefit greatly from hearing information about their donor and the donor family.
Correspondence Resources:
Correspondence Guidelines,Recipient Release Form,Information Exchange Policy Release
Stories of Sight
In loving memory and tribute to the compassionate and generous Gift of Sight to people in need.
Every year, thousands of people are effected by a treatable form of blindness, and through the gracious decision to donate, these individuals gain the priceless and life-changing gift of sight. Choosing to become a donor is choosing to be part of the solution to eliminate corneal blindness. Register to become a donor at https://www.donatelife.net/register/
Houston-area family meets their loved one’s cornea recipient virtually
FAQs
Tens of thousands of people a year have their sight restored through corneal transplants. Hundreds of thousands more are helped through research. One eye donor can give two people the gift of sight. Cornea transplant has a success rate that exceeds 95%.
Almost anyone can be an eye donor, including candidates with cataracts, poor eyesight (wearing glasses or contacts), or those with a diagnosis of cancer. Age does not prohibit eye donation.
A cornea can be damaged as a result of injury, infection, or corneal disease such as Fuchs’ Dystrophy or keratoconus.
A cornea transplant is surgery to replace a segment of an impaired cornea with a segment of a healthy donor cornea. The cornea has no blood vessels, so matching a donor to a recipient is not necessary, as in the case of organ donation.
You can register today to become a donor!
You can also sign up automatically by clicking “yes” when you obtain or renew your drivers license.