Eye Donation

According to recent statistics, more than 47,000 corneal transplants are performed in America each year. Unfortunately, in recent years, there are over 1200 people per year in the U.S. who needed corneal transplants but, due to a lack of donors, were unable to receive them. We encourage patients to read more about eye banking and tissue donation.  Becoming an eye and tissue donor is a wonderful way to give the gift of sight. Please click here to read more about eye donation.

For additional information and inspirational stories of how eye donation has helped to restore sight to patients, please read here.

Vision Screening

For most children in Iowa and around the country, a first vision screening does not happen until starting school.  Unfortunately, with many vision-threatening conditions, this is too late.  The project “Coming to Your Senses” has been created to help provide FREE vision screening to infants and young children in all 99 counties in the state of Iowa.  This project is supported by the collaborative efforts of the Lions Club (Iowa Lions, Individual Lions Clubs, and the Lions Clubs International Foundation), the Iowa Department of Public Health, the University of Iowa’s Department of Ophthalmology, The Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology, the Iowa Optometric Association, the Children’s Miracle Network, and the Wellmark Foundation of Iowa.  To read more, go to http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/ctys/

Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is cancer of the eye.  It is usually inherited (in an autosomal dominant fashion) and occurs in about 1 in 23,000 live births.  The disease is not only a cause of childhood blindness, but can grow and spread (metastasize).  One of the first signs of retinoblastoma is a white papillary reflex (leukocoria or white “cat’s eye”).  Fortunately, leukocoria can be detected by a simple screening test with an ophthalmoscope done by the child’s pediatrician (see the related link at the American Academy of Pediatrics).  Further evaluation and dilated examination of the eye by an ophthalmologist can lead to prompt treatment.  

A case of retinoblastoma is described on EyeRounds for health care professionals.

For more information for parents and the general public, please visit the following site about Sena’s Eyes.  The site is linked to the Iowa Lions Club and tells the story of one of the many patients treated here for this condition.