SK Lions Eye Bank
The cornea of your eye is like the crystal on a wristwatch - clear.
Infection, injury, and aging can all cause the cornea to become cloudy.
When this happens, light cannot enter your eye; without light, your eye cannot function properly and impairment of vision or blindness results. In a corneal transplant operation, the cloudy cornea is removed and replaced by a healthy, clear cornea from a donor. Because light can once again enter the eye, vision is restored.
To anyone who's been through the process, from light to dark to light again, it really is a medical miracle.
The Lions eye bank in partnership with the Saskatchewan Transplant Program is responsible for the recovery or donated eye tissue. Donor eyes are used for sight restoring corneal transplant surgery and for research and education concerning the prevention of blindness.
The Lions Eye Bank of Saskatchewan has been in operation for over 25 years.
The Lions Eye Banks perform valuable sight-saving functions. A staff of professionals at the eye bank recover, evaluate and distribute human eye tissue for vision restoration, research and education. Eye surgeons rely on eye banks to supply them with eye tissue for sight-saving procedures for persons who have eye disease or injury.
Lions have been providing support for eye banks for nearly 65 years. Currently, there are 53 official Lions Eye Banks throughout the world.
A Lions eye bank is a not-for-profit organization that:
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Operates within established Lions Clubs International Board Policy for the program
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Is sponsored by a Lions club, district or multiple district
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Has an established working relationship with a medical facility
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Complies with government medical and education standards
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May coordinate Lions' financial assistance for sight-saving corneal transplant surgery
Lions clubs, as well as the public, have opportunities to play a key role in support of Lions eye banks:
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World Sight Day provides an opportunity to focus on Lions eye banks and corneal donation.
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Get involved throughtout the year! Various countries have a designated day, week or month for emphasizing corneal donation. In the US, for example, March is "Eye Donor Awareness Month."
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Participate in fundraising event for the Lions eye bank.
Awards
Life Membership - $100.00 award for anyone wishing to be a member or for a person who has performed duties deserving of recognition (either Lion or non- Lion) (Certificate and a pin)
Garnet Davis Fellowship - $500.00 award - purchase to honor someone who has done long term or outstanding work with a Lions club or for a Lions club (Plaque and Certificate w/pin)
Contributing Member Pin - $25.00 available to anyone wishing to support to work of the Lions Eye Bank of Saskatchewan
Cliff Worden Fellowship - $1,000.00 award for someone contributing volunteerism and dedication beyond the expectation of a volunteer (Certificate, Plaque and a pin)
Make A Donation
If you wish to help with a monetary donation please make cheques payable to:
Lions Eye Bank of Saskatchewan
c/o Eye Care Centre
Saskatoon City Hospital
701 Queen Street
Saskatoon SK S7K 0M7
For information about eye donations or if you have any questions please call (306) 655-5932.
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