DECEMBER 2022 | VOL 12

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT 2022

As we end 2022, we reflect upon all we have accomplished and the patients we have served. We expect to provide corneal tissue for over 1,000 transplants and Serum Tears for nearly 1,800 patients. In addition, our pathology lab is expected to examine nearly 4,500 specimens. We look forward to continuing this work in 2023 and hope you will continue5 supporting our efforts to Create a World Without Blindness.

Please enjoy the “Year-in-Review,” which looks at what we accomplished this year!

FLORIDA LIONS EYE BANK YEAR IN REVIEW

Florida Lions Eye Bank celebrated its 60th anniversary in January of this year. In 1962, a cooperation between Lions Clubs of Florida and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute established Florida Lions Eye Bank as the first eye bank in the state of Florida.

When we opened our doors 60 years ago, we made corneal transplantation in Florida possible for many patients and their doctors who were previously limited by the short supply of human eye tissue. We recovered 205 eyes from donors and provided 62 corneas for transplant during our first year of operation. Since then, we have provided over 65,000 corneas for transplant, restoring sight to tens of thousands of recipients.

60TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE

Florida Lions Eye Bank held its annual membership meeting and Open House on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The event included a presentation to Lions and tours of its facilities and partner research labs, followed by a celebration of Florida Lions Eye Bank's 60th anniversary.

LIONS INTERNATIONAL 1st VICE PRESIDENT BRIAN SHEEHAN VISITS FLORIDA LIONS EYE BANK

On April 28th, Florida Lions Eye Bank was honored with a visitation by Lions International First Vice President Brian Sheehan and his wife, Lori. During the visit, VP Brian and Lori toured the eye bank laboratory, pathology laboratory, and research laboratory, where we shared information on our current operations and our vision for the future of eye banking. 

FLORIDA LIONS EYE BANK'S INSTALLATION DINNER GALA

In recognition of Florida Lions Eye Bank’s 60th Anniversary and Beauty of Sight Foundation’s 5th Anniversary, Lions celebrated this year’s Installation Dinner Gala on June 11 aboard the Venetian Lady, a 130-foot yacht.

In 2022 Florida Lions Eye Bank continued work with Coral Gables-based architectural firm Wolfberg Alvarez & Partners to design and plan our future headquarters. This new facility will feature state-of-the-art laboratories for processing corneal tissue and Serum Tears. It will also allow us to expand our research and innovation efforts and services to our community.

FLORIDA LIONS HOSTED WEB LABS THROUGHOUT 2022 

Florida Lions Eye Bank hosted several wet labs at our Miami facility, the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago, and FacoExtrema Ophthalmology Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The wet labs provided surgeons from around the world with the opportunity to learn and practice the latest surgical techniques, including DSAEK, DMEK & DALK. In total, we helped train more than 100 surgeons in 2022!

BEAUTY OF SIGHT FOUNDATION FUNDS

NOVEL RESEARCH PROJECTS

Beauty of Sight, the Florida Lions Eye Bank Foundation, funded over $300,000 in research projects this year, including a novel study of Salzmann nodular degeneration (SND). SND is a slowly progressive condition characterized by white or blue nodules on the cornea; its exact cause is unknown. The study aims to examine the histopathologic profile of SND to improve the understanding of the disease and improve treatment options. Beauty of Sight Foundation is committed to funding innovative and ground-breaking research in its quest to Create a World Without Blindness.

Please donate today to support all of our programs, including our gratis corneal tissue program, Serum Tears assistance program, and Research programs!