A Brief History of Corneal Transplantation and the Lions Eye Bank

     Early cornea homographs utilized for transplants were first done in the late 1700's.  These early attempts were all unsuccessful.  It is also noteworthy that patients undergoing surgery in those early days were without the benefit of anesthesia.  The first successful cornea transplant was performed by Edward Zirm, MD in 1906.  During the period from the 1930's thru the 1960's there were many innovative surgical techniques that improved the feasibility for doing corneal transplants.  The Eye Bank for Sight Restoration in New York City is credited with being the first eye bank.  Dr. R. Townley Paton served as that eye bank's first medical director.  In 1961 the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) was formed.  During the first meeting of the EBAA held in Chicago, 16 eye banks became it Charter Members, of which the Kentucky Lions Eye Bank was one.

     The process for storing corneal tissue has changed dramatically since the mid 1970's.  The storage media which contains Chondroitin Sulfate maintains the five layers of the cornea up to 14 days.  However, because of the high demand our eye bank has for corneas on a weekly basis, all our donor corneas cleared for surgery are transplanted within 2-3 days after they have been surgically recovered, evaluated, processed, and cleared for transplantation.

     The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank (ULLEB) is a cooperative effort of  the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, INC (KLEF) and the University of Louisville Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science.  Since it's inception in 1954 the eye bank has provided corneas for transplant surgery.  We also provide donor eyes medically unsuitable for transplant for research and practice surgery for our ophthalmology residents.

     The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank and the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation are committed to preserving and restoring sight.  The primary goals of the University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank are: (1) provide quality products to ophthalmologist for their patients, (2) provide eye tissue that is medically unsuitable for ophthalmic research, and (3) impress on medical professionals and the lay public to the positive aspects of cornea, eye, tissue, and organ donation.

     The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank is the oldest eye bank in Kentucky.  We began as an program of the Downtown Louisville Lions Club in 1954.  In 1985, we allied many of our efforts with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA).  Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates is the federally recognized Organ Procurement Organization in Kentucky.  The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank is located at 301 E. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky 40202.  Our offices and laboratory are located in the original building on the first floor and share offices with the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, INC.

     The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank is sight inspected regularly.  We are inspected every three (3) years by the Eye Bank Association of America and every two (2) years by the Federal Food and Drug Administration.

     The University of Louisville Lions Eye Bank is a part of the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, INC and a 5013C Not For Profit Organization.