Why eye donation?
Sometimes people with severe eye conditions or eye injuries need to undergo a corneal transplant and the YesEyeDid campaign wants to also focus on the importance of tissue donation in sight saving operations.
Become an eye donor
Moorfields’ charities supporter, Nicola Jones, recently signed up to be an eye donor following the hospital’s registration drive in July. “I had no idea that 10 sight saving operations could be performed from a pair of donated eyes.”
“Eventually my eyes could be used to save someone’s sight or maybe they will be used for research purposes. I have let my family know what I want to do. It’s great to think I can help someone else after I have passed on. After all I won’t be needing my eyes then!”
Sight saving research
Frank Larkin, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and deputy director of research at Moorfields biomedical research centre said: “Clearly the great majority of eyes which are donated supply our corneal transplants service which saves sight. However in the case of some donations, where people have suffered certain diseases, medical disorders or other general medical conditions, the risk to corneal transplantations is too great but this tissue can be used for research purposes.”
“At Moorfields there is ongoing research into numerous eye disease and inherited retinal disease and these donated eyes give us very valuable insight into many conditions because they can shed light on the disease and help to find cures.”