CorneaGen Joins Forces with Lions Eye Bank of Texas  

January 15, 2026

CorneaGen proudly announces its integration of Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine, marking the next step in an eight-year collaborative relationship.  

By combining Lions Eye Bank’s deep local expertise in the Texas Gulf Coast region with CorneaGen’s nationwide infrastructure, we will create greater efficiencies and expand access to quality ocular tissue, innovative products and comprehensive services for more surgeons and their patients. 

The acquisition was finalized in late December 2025, and CorneaGen and Lions Eye Bank of Texas are working closely to further integrate their organizations and teams to ensure a seamless experience for surgeons, healthcare partners and donor families. While the formal affiliation between the eye bank and Baylor College of Medicine will conclude, CorneaGen remains committed to supporting affiliated surgeons with high-quality tissue and services. 

“Our partnership with the Lions Eye Bank of Texas has always been strong, and this integration marks a natural next step to accelerate our collective impact,” said Bernie Iliakis, President and CEO of CorneaGen. “By joining forces, we will strengthen our presence in Texas and across the country, enabling us to provide ocular tissue more effectively to meet the needs of patients and surgeons nationwide.” 

In 2018, CorneaGen began processing and distributing tissue recovered by the Lions Eye Bank of Texas, which provided Texas surgeons greater access to ocular tissue to better meet the specific needs of their patients. In addition, their surgeon customers would be eligible to utilize CorneaGen’s extensive education and training opportunities as well as expanded offering of innovative products. 

“For more than seven decades, the Lions Eye Bank of Texas has been a trusted partner in caring for the Gulf Coast community, and this transition ensures that we can continue serving patients for generations to come,” said Sumitra Khandelwal, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine. “Our partnership has shown the power of collaboration, and by formally joining CorneaGen, we’ll have greater resources to both support local eye donation and surgeons delivering sight-saving tissue to those who need it most.” 

About CorneaGen 

CorneaGen is a mission-driven company committed to transforming how corneal surgeons treat and care for the cornea. Based in Seattle, the company is innovating the next generation of cornea care, from new medical devices and biologics to therapeutics and interventions. CorneaGen supports corneal surgeons and their patients with a spectrum of services, including the latest in innovative products, delivery of the highest quality tissue, surgeon education, and advocacy for patient access and reimbursement policies. 

Media Contact 

Erika Novak, Communications Consultant 

erikanovakconsulting@outlook.com