JULY 2024 | VOL 7

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Elizabeth Fout, Executive Director

efcaraza@med.miami.edu

Beauty of Sight Eye Bank Distributes Over 1,000 Corneas for Third Consecutive Year

Miami, Florida (July 2024) – Beauty of Sight has marked a significant achievement by distributing over 1,000 corneas for sight-saving transplants for the third consecutive year, closing its 2023-2024 fiscal year on a high note.

Since its founding in 1962 as the Florida Lions Eye Bank, Beauty of Sight has provided over 75,000 ocular grafts for corneal transplants and other vision-restoring surgeries. Additionally, nearly 40,000 ocular tissues have been supplied for research and training.

“Our organization is incredibly proud of our role in restoring sight. This life-changing work would not be possible without the generosity of donors and their families, our exceptional team's dedication, and our community partners' unwavering support.

"Together, we are transforming lives and bringing light to those in darkness,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Fout.

For more information on Beauty of Sight’s programs and complete press release, visit Beauty of Sight at www.beautyofsight.org.



Beauty of Sight Provides Serum Tears (Autologous Serum Eye Drops) Services for Patients in South Florida

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Serum Tears are prescribed for patients who suffer from epithelial defects or severe dry eye symptoms. The drops are an ophthalmic biological therapy made to order for each patient. Serum Tears combine the patient’s blood serum with sterile, preservative-free saline or balanced salt solution, helping to heal and relieve the symptoms.

Beauty of Sight began producing serum tears for patients throughout Florida in 2017. To date, we have processed drops for nearly five thousand patients, with more added every day. So far this year, 756 patients have benefited from Beauty of Sight's Serum Tears services.

Unfortunately, most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, rarely cover Serum Tears. As such, patients are responsible for the cost of this therapy. Because of this, Beauty of Sight charges a minimal fee for the drops, below the cost to produce them. However, even at the reduced prices, these drops are out of reach for some patients in our community.

Recognizing this need, in 2018, Beauty of Sight launched the Serum Tears Assistance Program with the support of Beauty of Sight. This program provides free eye drops for patients in need. Patients must apply and provide proof of their stated income to receive free eye drops. Additionally, patients are qualified based on the United States Federal Poverty Guidelines and, if approved, receive a 3-month supply of drops completely free.



Beauty of Sight's Partnership with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Ensures Top-Quality Corneal Tissue

Located within the renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI), Beauty of Sight maintains a strong partnership that ensures all corneas distributed by Beauty of Sight undergo thorough evaluation by BPEI fellows or faculty members. This rigorous evaluation process utilizes a slit lamp to meticulously check for scars, defects, and signs of infection, guaranteeing that the tissue provided by Beauty of Sight has the highest potential to restore sight effectively.

Each July, Beauty of Sight welcomes new cornea fellows. This year, on July 18th, the organization trained the incoming fellows on the critical process of tissue evaluation. This training session was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Rahul Tonk, Cornea Faculty Member and Cornea Fellowship Program Director at BPEI. Dr. Tonk's expertise and leadership play a vital role in maintaining the high tissue quality and care standards that Beauty of Sight is known for.

The ongoing collaboration between Beauty of Sight and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute not only enhances the quality of corneal tissue but also fosters the growth and development of future leaders in ophthalmology, ensuring a bright future for eye care advancements.

Beauty of Sight attends the Florida Association of Medical Examiners 50th Annual Educational Conference

The Florida Association of Medical Examiners (FAME) hosted its 50th Annual Educational Conference in Sarasota, Florida, from July 17th to July 19th, 2024. The event gathered nationwide eye banks, tissue banks, and organ procurement organizations. Beauty of Sight's participation was especially significant, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with Medical Examiners, who play a crucial role in our mission to restore sight. Concetta Triglia, Director of Laboratory Services, and Dahiana De Francisco, Communications Manager, attended the conference, proudly representing Beauty of Sight Eye Bank.

Attending FAME’s 50th Annual Educational Conference allowed Beauty of Sight to solidify and strengthen relationships with medical examiners in several ways:

• Networking Opportunities: Attending the conference allows representatives from the eye bank to meet and interact directly with medical examiners. This face-to-face interaction fosters a sense of familiarity and trust, which is essential for building strong professional relationships.

• Visibility and Recognition: Attending a prestigious event like FAME’s Annual Educational Conference increases the eye bank's visibility within the medical community. This recognition can enhance Beauty of Sight’s reputation and credibility, making medical examiners more likely to work closely with them.

• Understanding Needs and Challenges: Engaging with medical examiners at the conference helps the eye bank gain insights into these professionals' specific needs and challenges. This understanding can lead to developing tailored solutions and services that address those needs, strengthening the relationship.

• Educational Benefits: The conference is an educational opportunity for the eye bank and medical examiners. Both parties can provide the best care and services by staying informed about the latest trends, regulations, and techniques.

By restoring sight and offering hope to those affected by corneal blindness, we continue illuminating the path toward a brighter, more transparent future for many.

Please donate today to support our programs, including our Gratis Corneal Tissue, Serum Tears Assistance, and Research programs!