Corneal Transplantation
The cornea is the clear “window” at the front of the eye, thus a cornea transplant can be likened to the replacement of a cloudy window pane with a new, clear pane of glass.
The first successful human cornea transplant was performed in 1905, but the procedure remained quite rare until the advent of the modern eye banking system. The nation’s first eye bank was founded in New York City in 1944, and a few years later, others were founded to serve the growing need for donated eye tissue, including the Cincinnati Eye Bank in 1956. In 1961, the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) was established, which now provides medical standards for the procurement and distribution of corneal tissue, accredits member eye banks, and provides educational programs for physicians and eye bank personnel.
An eye bank is the link from the donor family to the surgeon and their patient, helping to bring about the miracle gift of sight. Before a cornea transplant can happen, however, the donor recovery and screening process must take place. Potential donors are thoroughly evaluated for suitability for transplantation to assure the best outcome for the waiting recipient. The medical and social history is carefully reviewed for medical exclusions or evidence of possible high risk behavior, blood testing is performed for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis, and the quality of the cornea itself is examined under special microscopes.
Once a cornea has been determined to be suitable for transplantation, it is placed with a waiting patient and their surgeon. Surgery generally takes place within just a few days, since the cornea may only be stored for a short length of time. Suitable corneal tissue may also be shared with other eye banks in the United States or internationally, depending on current waiting lists.