Eversight Connecticut Vision | Page 6

A Look Through

Corneal transplantation is the most commonly performed transplant procedure , with nearly 50,000 new recipients each year in the U . S . alone .
Over the past century , a dramatic evolution in recovery , preparation and surgical techniques combined to change the transplant experience – from lengthy hospital stays and modest results to outpatient procedures and near-perfect vision for many patients .
These innovations are made possible by the dedication of surgeons , researchers and eye bank professionals who work together to advance treatments for blinding eye diseases .
Here ’ s a brief look back at the journey and the miracle of sight restoration .

1900s 1940s 1960s 1980s

First successful cornea transplant is performed in 1905 , nearly 50 years before the first organ transplant .
The first eye bank is established in 1944 , providing a system for recovering and distributing eye tissue for transplantation . In 1947 , the first affiliate eye bank of what would become the Eversight network is established in Illinois .
The Eye Bank Association of America ( EBAA ) is founded in 1961 to create a community of eye banks that work together to share knowledge and best practices . In 1968 the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act lays the foundation for modern donor registry systems and First Person Authorization law .
EBAA establishes the first-ever medical standards and ethics policies to ensure the safety and quality of tissue for transplants . The organization begins its accreditation program in 1981 to ensure eye banks meet the highest standard of practice .
Spring 2016 | VISION | Page 6