Sandy Freeman, center, director of the Lions District 12-0 Eye Bank, spoke about the importance of eye banks at the Signal Mountain Lions Club. She is shown with Jim Simpkins, right, club president, and was introduced by Jerry Pala, left. Click to enlarge.

Sandy Freeman, director of the District 12-0 Lions Eye Bank, spoke about the importance of eye banks at the Tuesday meeting of the Signal Mountain Lions Club. Lions Eye Banks perform a sight-saving function with a staff of professionals who recover, evaluate and distribute human eye tissue for vision restoration, research and education, she said.

Lions have been providing support for eye banks for nearly 65 years. Currently there are 53 official Lions Eye Banks throughout the world. Eye surgeons rely on eye banks to supply them with eye tissue for sight-saving procedures for persons who have eye disease or injury.

Eye banks are not for profit and operate within established Lions Clubs International Board policy. A bank, sponsored by a Lions Club, district or multiple district has established a working relationship with a medical facility. It complies with government and medical education standards and may coordinate Lions financial assistance for sight-saving corneal transplant surgery.

The Tennessee District 12-0 Lions Eye Bank was established in 1983 to procure and distribute eye tissue for transplantation, education and research in the 12-0 District. It is one of four eye banks in Tennessee and serves 18 counties. The first corneal transplant in Chattanooga was in 1983. Over 2,300 people in this region have had their sight restored by corneal transplants. In Chattanooga there now is an average of about 100 corneal transplants a year.

This is made possible by humanitarian families who chose to donate and dedicated nursing staffs who made the referrals to guarantee that these families were offered the option to donate. There is no substitute for human tissue. Donations are made anonymously. There is no fee for the service and it is illegal to buy or sell corneas.

District 12-0 Eye Banks are certified by the Eye Bank Association of America and are inspected and approved by the FDA. These banks work with Tennessee Donor Services in over 20 hospitals in the District, including Erlanger, Memorial and Parkridge hospitals in Chattanooga. Any costs associated with eye procurement is absorbed by the eye bank.

District 12-0 Sight Services coordinates financial assistance. Cases are evaluated on a need basis. Applicants are interviewed and must meet certain criteria for financial need. This is supported by the District 12-0 White Cane Fund, District 12-0 Eye Bank and Sight Service.