1. Manager of Hospital Development Lions Eye Bank at Albany
Joann Beach, MA, CEBT
Manager of Hospital Development
Sight Society of NENY
Lions Eye Bank at Albany
Restoring sight since 1952

2. Mission
The Sight Society of Northeastern New York (Lions Eye Bank at Albany) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing ocular tissue for transplantation, medical education and research.

3. Sight Society of NENY The World’s First Lions Eye
Provide corneas and sclera for transplant – worldwide.
Service area 29 Counties in New York State and 1 County in Massachusetts.

4. We work in collaboration with MTF – Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation and CDT – Center for Donation & Transplant

5. How prevalent is corneal transplantation?
One of the most frequently performed human transplant procedures.
Since 1961
more than 700,000 corneal transplants have been performed, restoring sight to men, women, and children ranging in age from 9 days to 103 years.
2014
LEBA restored sight to over 350 people
Over 90% of all corneal transplant operations successfully restore the recipient's vision.

6. "Ok, were ready for the donor cornea. Oh, very good
"Ok, were ready for the donor cornea ... Oh, very good. I see we once again have a good selection"

7. Governance
Licensed by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)
Certified by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)
Registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

8. Laws Regarding Donation
1998 CMS “Final Rule”
To meet the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Service’s Condition of Participation (CoP).
All deaths and imminent deaths must be reported to the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) to ascertain medical suitability.
Only trained Designated Requestors will be allowed to offer the option of eye, organ and tissue donation to families.

9. Referrals
Shared organ or tissue case we are notified by CDT/MTF of a consented case
Patients ruled out for tissue donation are passed to the eye bank.
You will receive a call back from Lions Eye Bank at Albany to review for donor suitability

11. Federal Register/Vol.65, No.250 Rules and Regulations, pp.82816
HIPAA Regulations
Federal Register/Vol.65, No.250
Thursday, December 28, 2000
Rules and Regulations, pp.82816
Part (h) Uses and disclosures for which consent, an authorization, or opportunity to agree or object is not required. Uses and disclosures for cadaveric organ, eye, or tissue donation purposes. A covered entity may use or disclose protected health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaging in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of cadaveric organs, eyes, or tissue for the purpose of facilitating organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation.

12. What we need Name, age, sex of patient Date & time of death
Cause of death, admitting Dx
Pertinent Medical History
Ventilated?
Next of Kin information

13. What we are looking for Sepsis – documented Infectious - contagious
Autoimmune diseases
Documented neurological disease

14. Who can be a donor? Age - 1 to 70 (transplant)
Any age for research/education
History of cataracts, poor eyesight, diabetes, glaucoma or cancer will not prevent you from being a donor.

15. What Can Be Donated? Cornea Whole globe Transplant Medical Research
Sclera
Stem Cell
Transplant
Medical Research
Medical Education

17. Recovery & Preservation
Recovery of the cornea must be performed within hours after death has been declared.
Preservation solution: Optisol GS

19. Recovery - Location Hospital Room/Bedside Morgue Operating Room
Funeral Home – transplant only

20. Recovery Trained eye bank technicians – full time/per diem
Transportation of eye tissue – by eye bank staff or the New York State Police

21. Distribution of Donated Eye Tissue Viable for transplant up to 14 days
Emergency
Local Surgeons
New York State
United States
The World

22. Why would someone need a cornea transplant?

23. Focusing element of the eye
Healthy Cornea
Damaged Cornea

24. Corneal blindness
a disorder that results from the cornea becoming clouded making a person unable to see.
This condition can result from a variety of diseases, injury or infection.

26. Corneal Transplant

27. Traditional Transplant - Full thickness

28. The Future of Cornea Transplants
DESEK: Eye bank staff to perform cutting edge tissue preparations.

29. Advantages of DSEK: More rapid recovery Shorter procedure for patients
Contact lenses or strong glasses are less likely to be necessary – no sutures
Less risk of rejection

30. Corneal Transplant Surgery
KPRO
Artificial Cornea
Used after 2 or more failed grafts

31. Medical Research & Education
Corneal procurement is performed by one person.

32. Locally Supported Research

33. Locally Supported Research
Surgical Techniques and suturing
RPK
PKP EK
DMEK
Dry Eye Syndrome

34. Family Aftercare Support
Facilitate correspondence between donor family and recipients
Education about grief and mourning
Opportunities to honor and/or memorialize their family member: Donor Memorial Service, Remembrance Quilts
Opportunities to participate in community events

35. On behalf of all of those waiting or who have received an organ or tissue transplant Thank you!