IMPACT REPORT 2019
Saving Sight is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to change lives by saving sight. Founded in 1960, Saving Sight has grown to become one of the nation’s leading eye banks and is focused on providing innovative solutions to its clinical and research partners. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Saving Sight facilitates eye donation to Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois, serving transplantation and research specialists locally and around the world. This report details our work, and the work of our partners to help 2,942 generous eye donors give the gift of sight in 2019 through research and transplantation. The journey begins when a donor or donor family says yes to eye donation. Hospital staff and community partners make referrals and assist Saving Sight in the recovery of tissue. Saving Sight processes recovered tissue and distributes it to surgeons and researchers who restore sight through transplant surgeries or the advancement of medical practice. Recipients of corneal transplantation are given the selfless gift of sight to help restore their vision. No matter where you are in the journey, we thank you for your partnership. We’re honored to conclude another decade of changing lives by saving sight.
Eye Donation | Page 2
2,942 Heroes Like Barb Gave the Gift of Sight State Donor Designation Share
76%
60%
76%
A Legacy Lives On “My mom was ALWAYS happy! She was everyone’s best friend and she never met a stranger,” says Tamika of her mom, Barb. “She had the most beautiful smile and the most distinctive laugh ever!”
DDS* is the total number of designated donors as a percentage of all state registrants age 18 and older. Join the national donor registry online at registerme.org. *DDS from Donate Life America registry overview report as of 8/7/19
When Barb passed away, she was able to give the gift of sight to others as an eye donor. “My mom made the choice to become an organ donor through the DMV and encouraged me to do the same,” says Tamika. “That’s the type of person she was… always a giver. She impacted so many people – her funeral services were attended by over 400 people!” “I’d like to believe that someone’s life has been enhanced because of my mom’s donation. I hope that they know that by receiving any part of her, they are connected to a brilliant, strong, loving, faith-filled person.”
Click here to read Barb’s full story.
Nationally, DDS was 59.26%
Referral Source for Saving Sight Eye Donors 61.8% Next of Kin Consent 38.2% First-Person Authorization
Consent Rate for Saving Sight Eye Donors
46.8%
Next of Kin Consent Rate**
83.2%
First-Person Authorization Consent Rate**
**Consent rate as a percentage of all approaches made by Saving Sight. Eye Donation | Page 3
Tamika Shares Her Mother’s Legacy After her mother’s death, Tamika found comfort in sharing her mother’s legacy and being an advocate for eye, organ and tissue donation. Tamika came to Saving Sight during Eye Donation Month in November to share their story and what it means to her family that her mom, Barb, was able to continue her giving nature as an eye donor. “#LiveLikeBarb was something that I came up with right after my mom passed away,” says Tamika. “So many people spoke about how they aspired to be like her or how they admired the type of person she was. That hashtag is a small reminder that we should all strive to live the way she did. Even while living with congestive heart failure, she never allowed her health to slow her down. She always had joy, was always quick to forgive, she never complained, and she lived a life of gratitude. Who wouldn’t want to Live Like Barb? The buttons are just a tangible reminder of that – I usually keep several on hand at all times because I’m always running into a classmate of hers, a former co-worker…even her favorite cashier at JCPenney asked for one!” “I made a promise that my mom would be famous – that her name and legacy would live forever. I don’t ever want her story to be solely about me and my journey without her…my goal is to have her life story impact others in a way that helps them to live their lives in a more meaningful way.”
Donor Day at the Missouri Capitol On April 9th, Saving Sight was honored to take part in Donor Family Recognition Day at the Missouri State Capitol. This event is organized by the Governor’s Organ Donor Advisory Committee and organ and tissue procurement organizations to honor the legacy of those who gave the gift of life and sight. During the event, donor families were honored by the Governor and were also introduced on the House floor. We also had the great privilege of having one of our cornea recipients, retired Judge Gary Schmidt, speak at the event to share about the impact corneal transplantation has had on his life. Gary finds it very meaningful to speak at events like this. “It gives me an opportunity to express my gratitude to the families of donors of all types. Donors have done so much to improve the lives, perhaps save the lives of others. It is a privilege to say ‘Thank you!’ I’m not able to find the words to adequately express the debt of gratitude we owe them.” Click here to watch Gary’s speech at the Capitol.
Donation Referral | Page 4
Mark Myers - Champion of Donation As the Decedent Affairs Coordinator for The University of Kansas Health System, Mark Myers manages the day-to-day operation of their office as well as autopsy services for the health system. Mark’s support of organ, eye and tissue donation is instrumental in helping Saving Sight facilitate the gift of sight in the hospital. “We take our work very seriously. Our goal is to never release a potential donor to the funeral home until we speak with Saving Sight as well as Midwest Transplant Network,” he says. His team of two works 7 days a weeks with doctors, nurses, families, clergy, Midwest Transplant Network, Saving Sight, funeral homes and coroners to serve the families of deceased patients. “Our entire health system is pro-donation and it trickles down to us. Every day the need for the gift of sight grows and we all realize just how valuable the gift of sight is,” says Mark. Mark and his team work to ensure everything flows smoothly for Saving Sight and Midwest Transplant Network. “I’m very proud to partner with Saving Sight because of the work they do to help so many people – it’s a great cause that changes many lives.” Not only does Mark support donation through his work, but he takes part in the donor advisory council at the health system. He finds it impactful hearing other’s stories of donation and learning how to be a great advocate. “Sometimes it takes a little extra time to facilitate donation, but if you think about the outcome and how many lives are changed, that time is invaluable. Once you get involved, like with donor advisory council, and you hear about the lives changed and saved out of tragedy it makes all the work we do totally worth it,” he says. If you work at a hospital and have a donor advisory council, Mark says it’s worthwhile to attend. “If you have the meetings, I encourage you to go. You not only learn so much but it can also touch your heart.”
To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation, or to join the national registry please visit registerme.org.
He adds that signing up to join the donor registry is an easy process at registerme.org or at your local DMV. If you join the registry, it’s important to let your family members know your choice so there aren’t any surprises when the time comes. “My personal preference to be a donor is important to our family and it’s the most unselfish gift you can give,” he says. “My wife and sons know how important it is to me personally. And someday it could be me or my family that needs a transplant.” Donation Referral | Page 5
Contact Our Hospital Development Team
Territory 1 Kansas Eye Bank 316-260-8220 Wichita, KS
Territory 2 Darcey Ross 816-255-1373 Kansas City, MO
Hospital Referral Partners Hospital Name Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
14
11
2
93%
79%
4
Adair Acute Care at Osawatomie State Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
AdventHealth Ottawa
9
7
14
89%
78%
2
Allen County Regional Hospital
7
4
12
71%
57%
3
Ascension Via Christi Health Pittsburg
24
12
16
55%
50%
3
Ascension Via Christi Health Pittsburg - Fort Scott
3
1
0
55%
33%
3
Atchison Hospital
12
2
6
27%
17%
2 2
Bates County Memorial Hospital
8
4
5
57%
50%
Boone Hospital Center
97
32
58
38%
33%
4
Bothwell Regional Health Center
21
7
16
50%
33%
2
Cameron Regional Medical Center
16
7
14
57%
44%
2
Capital Region Medical Center
73
32
51
56%
44%
4
Carle Richland Memorial Hospital
16
5
10
60%
31%
4
Carlinville Area Hospital
7
0
0
0%
0%
4
Carroll County Memorial Hospital
2
0
0
0%
0%
2
Cass Regional Medical Center
8
4
8
57%
50%
2
Cedar County Memorial Hospital
5
3
6
60%
60%
3
Center for Behavioral Medicine
0
0
0
0%
0%
2 4
CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia
0
0
0
0%
0%
Citizens Memorial Healthcare
30
14
20
60%
47%
3
Clay County Hospital
9
1
2
50%
11%
4
Clay County Medical Center
6
3
6
60%
50%
2
Coffey County Hospital
12
4
8
50%
33%
3
Coffeyville Regional Medical Center
13
3
6
33%
23%
3
Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center
5
4
7
0%
0%
2
Community Hospital Fairfax
8
3
6
67%
38%
2
Community Hospital Onaga
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Community Hospital St. Mary's
2
2
4
100%
100%
2
Community Memorial Healthcare
2
2
2
100%
100%
2
Community Memorial Hospital - Staunton
6
2
2
67%
33%
4
Cox Barton County Hospital
3
2
4
67%
67%
3
Cox Hospital Monett
7
3
9
50%
43%
3
Cox Medical Center Branson
61
31
58
70%
51%
3
469
243
432
61%
52%
3
Crawford Memorial Hospital
8
0
0
50%
0%
4
Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center
2
2
2
100%
100%
2
Ellett Memorial Hospital
1
0
0
0%
0%
2
Excelsior Springs Hospital
6
3
6
67%
50%
2
F.W. Huston Medical Center
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Fayette County Hospital
10
3
6
44%
30%
4
Fitzgibbon Hospital
14
4
8
36%
29%
2
Cox Medical Center South
Territory 3 Haley Lyne 417-569-1270 Springfield, MO
Territory 4 Tori Weiss 314-584-1712 St. Louis, MO Donation Referral | Page 6
Total Suitable Tissues Consent Conversion HD Donors Eye Donors Transplanted Rate Rate Territory
Fredonia Regional Hospital
4
1
2
25%
25%
3
Freeman Hospital Neosho
15
9
15
60%
60%
3
Freeman Hospital West
234
122
217
58%
52%
3
Fulton Medical Center
4
1
2
100%
25%
4
Fulton State Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
4
Geary Community Hospital
16
11
18
84%
69%
2
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital
12
1
2
14%
8%
3
Golden Valley Memorial Hospital
20
9
16
61%
45%
2
Hannibal Regional Hospital
35
15
26
52%
43%
4
Hanover Hospital
3
2
4
67%
67%
2 2
Harrison County Community Hospital
7
2
4
33%
29%
Harry S. Truman VA Hospital
34
12
21
46%
35%
4
Hedrick Medical Center
7
2
4
50%
29%
2
Hermann Area District Hospital
4
1
3
50%
25%
4
Hiawatha Community Hospital
5
4
9
80%
80%
2
Hillsboro Area Hospital
5
3
6
100%
60%
4
Holton Community Hospital
3
0
0
0%
0%
2
Horizon Health Paris Community Hospital
12
4
6
40%
33%
4
Horton Community Hospital
1
0
0
0%
0%
2
HSHS Good Shephard Hospital
11
1
2
20%
9%
4
Hospital Name HSHS St. Anthony's Hospital - Effingham HSHS St. Francis - Litchfield HSHS St. John's Hospital
Total Suitable Tissues Consent Conversion HD Donors Eye Donors Transplanted Rate Rate Territory 19 3 5 40% 16% 4 9
2
7
25%
22%
4
263
107
172
53%
41%
4
Irwin Army Community Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Kansas City VA Medical Center
26
15
22
64%
58%
2
Kiowa County Memorial Hospital
1
1
2
100%
100%
2
KPC Promise Hospital of Overland Park, LLC
1
1
2
100%
100%
2
Labette Health
17
9
14
64%
53%
3
Labette Health Independence Healthcare Center
6
2
12
40%
33%
3
Lafayette Regional Health Center
6
1
2
33%
17%
2
Lake Regional Hospital
79
33
47
54%
42%
3
Landmark Hospital of Columbia
6
3
5
75%
50%
4
Landmark Hospital of Joplin
13
1
0
8%
8%
3
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital
10
3
8
44%
30%
4
LMH Health
44
30
57
77%
68%
2
Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Memorial Hospital Abilene
12
4
6
36%
33%
2
Memorial Medical Center
301
140
229
58%
47%
4
Mercy Hospital Aurora
8
2
4
33%
25%
3
Mercy Hospital Carthage
2
1
0
50%
50%
3
Mercy Hospital Cassville
3
1
2
33%
33%
3
Mercy Hospital Columbus
3
2
5
75%
67%
3
Mercy Hospital Jefferson
64
21
28
48%
33%
4
Mercy Hospital Joplin
122
55
95
51%
45%
3
11
6
11
80%
55%
3
Mercy Hospital Springfield
546
258
429
58%
47%
3
Mercy Hospital St. Francis
2
0
0
100%
0%
3
Mercy Hospital Washington
68
34
56
67%
50%
4
Miami County Medical Center
6
2
4
33%
33%
2
Mercy Hospital Lebanon
Mid-America Rehabilitation Center
2
2
6
100%
100%
2
Moberly Regional Medical Center
17
5
12
42%
29%
2
164
73
142
52%
45%
2
Mosaic Life Care Long Term Acute Care
2
0
0
0%
0%
2
Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
3
1
2
33%
33%
2
Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
12
7
9
67%
58%
3
Nevada Regional Medical Center
9
6
18
100%
67%
3
Northeast Regional Medical Center
23
6
14
38%
26%
2
Mosaic Life Care
Northwest Medical Center
4
1
2
25%
25%
2
Olathe Hospice House
5
5
10
100%
100%
2
Olathe Medical Center
55
32
70
61%
58%
2
Osage Beach Center for Cognitive Disorders
0
0
0
0%
0%
3
Ozarks Medical Center
37
16
18
58%
43%
3
Pana Community Hospital
9
1
2
14%
11%
4
Passavant Area Hospital
30
10
21
65%
33%
4
Pershing Memorial Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Phelps Health
42
12
18
56%
29%
3
Pike County Memorial Hospital
3
1
0
50%
33%
4 2
Pinnacle Regional Hospital
8
5
10
71%
63%
Prairie View, Inc.
0
0
0
0%
0%
3
Providence Medical Center
56
30
61
61%
54%
2
Putnam County Memorial Hospital
3
0
0
0%
0%
2
Ray County Memorial Hospital
9
4
8
56%
44%
2
Rusk Rehabilitation Center
0
0
0
0%
0%
4
Sabetha Community Hospital
4
1
4
40%
25%
2
Saint John Hospital
9
5
8
67%
56%
2
Saint Luke's Cushing Hospital
10
4
9
50%
40%
2
Salem Memorial District Hospital
15
5
6
88%
33%
3
Salina Surgical Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Samaritan Hospital
11
4
8
44%
36%
2
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
48
17
28
53%
35%
4
Scotland County Hospital
4
2
0
100%
50%
4
Ways Hospital Staff Can Support Eye Donation
Make the initial referral call to the organ procurement organization within 60 minutes of cardiac death.
Get more than one contact number for the patient’s next of kin.
.
Donation Referral | Page 7
Hospital Referral Partners Hospital Name Select Speciality Hospital Kansas City, KS
Don’t release the deceased to a funeral home until you’ve heard from Saving Sight.
Once a patient has passed away and their family is no longer at the bedside, perform
SEE:
Total Suitable Tissues Consent Conversion HD Donors Eye Donors Transplanted Rate Rate Territory 9 2 4 29% 22% 2
Select Speciality Hospital Springfield
28
8
10
39%
29%
3
Signature Psychiatric Hospital
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
SSM Health St. Francis Hospital - Maryville
8
3
6
67%
38%
2
SSM Health St. Mary's Centralia
23
15
24
75%
65%
4
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Audrain
15
8
8
57%
53%
4
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Jefferson City
40
18
29
48%
45%
4
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital
8
2
2
50%
25%
4
Sullivan County Memorial Hospital
2
0
0
0%
0%
2
Summit Surgical
0
0
0
0%
0%
3
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
11
3
6
67%
27%
4
Texas County Memorial Hospital
18
4
7
55%
22%
3
Thomas H. Boyd Memorial Hospital
6
0
0
20%
0%
4
University Hospital & Clinics
265
116
191
55%
44%
4
University of Kansas Health System
304
160
408
65%
53%
2
University of Kansas Health System St. Francis
58
29
60
66%
50%
2
University Women's and Children's Hospital
2
1
2
50%
50%
4
Via Christi Hospital - Manhattan
44
15
34
46%
34%
2
Wamego Health Center
0
0
0
0%
0%
2
Washington County Hospital
3
1
2
33%
33%
2
Washington County Memorial Hospital
9
5
8
63%
56%
4
Western Missouri Medical Center
9
3
6
56%
33%
2
Wilson Medical Center
1
0
0
0%
0%
3
Wright Memorial Hospital
4
2
3
67%
50%
2
Hospital Development Territory Map
Saline eye drops in each eye,
Elevate the head to 30 degrees, Kansas City St. Louis
Eyelids closed and apply lightweight ice packs over closed eyelids (don’t tape eyelids closed).
Donation Referral | Page 8
KEB - Wichita Springfield
Territory 1 Hospital - Kansas Eye Bank HD 1 - Hospital Name*
HD 1 - Hospital Name*
Anderson County Hospital
Mercy Hospital, Inc.
Ashland Health Center
Minneola District Hospital
Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital
Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Cheyenne County Hospital
Morris County Hospital
Citizens Medical Center, Inc.
Morton County Hospital
Clara Barton Hospital
Ness County Hospital
Cloud County Health Center
Newman Regional Health
Comanche County Hospital
Newton Medical Center
Decatur County Hospital
Norton County Hospital
Edwards County Medical Center
Osborne County Memorial Hospital
Ellinwood District Hospital
Oswego Community Hospital
Ellsworth County Medical Center
Ottawa County Health Center
Girard Medical Center
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
Goodland Regional Medical Center
Phillips County Hospital
Gove County Medical Center
Rawlins County Health Center
Graham County Hospital
Republic County Hospital
Greeley County Health Services
Rice County District Hospital
Greenwood County Hospital
Rooks County Health Center
Grisell Memorial Hospital
Rush County Memorial Hospital
Hamilton County Hospital
Russell Regional Hospital
HaysMed The University of Kansas Health System
Satanta District Hospital & Long Term Acute Care
Herington Municipal Hospital
Scott County Hospital
Hillsboro Community Hospital
Sedan City Hospital
Hodgeman County Health Center
Sheridan County Health Complex
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center
Smith County Memorial Hospital
Jewell County Hospital
Southwest Medical Center
Kearny County Hospital
St. Catherine Hospital
Kiowa District Hospital
St. Luke Hospital and Living Center
Lane County Hospital
Stafford County Hospital
Larned State Hospital
Stanton County Hospital
Lincoln County Hospital
Stevens County Hospital
Lindsborg Community Hospital
Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital
Logan County Hospital
The University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus
McPherson Hospital
Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital
Meade District Hospital
Western Plains Medical Complex
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital
Wichita County Health Center
*The Kansas Eye Bank partners with Saving Sight for tissue recovery in Hospital Development Territory 1. Please reach out to the Kansas Eye Bank at 316-260-8220 if you are interested in data for Hospital Development Territory 1.
Timing is critical, but Saving Sight recognizes the need for time and space. Communicate with us about how the family is currently coping. Call Saving Sight staff at 800-3312636 if you have questions at any time about where a case is in the donation process.
Set up a professional development session or request badge cards to help your staff facilitate donation by contacting the Saving Sight Hospital Development team.
Donation Referral | Page 9
November is Eye Donation Month
November is #EyeDonationMonth. Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) uses the month as an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of registering to be a donor, about cornea donation and transplantation, and to acknowledge the work of their partner eye banks. As a member eye bank, Saving Sight took part in celebrating Eye Donation Month and the theme of The Power of You. The campaign demonstrates the power that individuals have in building hope, restoring sight and changing lives, including healthcare professionals and partners, researchers, eye bank staff, corneal surgeons, and recipients and donor families. Our Hospital Development team dedicated their month to rounding at our partner hospitals with treat trolleys to thank them for their partnership in facilitating eye donation throughout our service area. “The entire essence of EDM itself, as I learned, is not necessarily to spread awareness and encourage people to become donors, but instead to look to the day-to-day of eye donation and thank those that make each piece of the process possible,” says Tori Weiss, Territory 4 Hospital Development Manager. “It was such a privilege to hear the nurses’ personal experiences. I was so happy to hear they felt the time we were taking was special to not only say “thank you,” but was also a time of appreciation to honor the donor heroes and recognize the recipients whose lives have been improved by an incredible gift,” says Haley Lyne, Territory 3 Hospital Development Manager. “I am so grateful for all of the wonderful interactions I had during Eye Donation Month. Our line of work sometimes comes with difficult days, but it’s the good interactions and donor champion stories that drive me in my role every day. I hope that you all know how much you impact the lives of those in and out of our community with your work every day,” says Darcey Ross, Territory 2 Hospital Development Manager.
Education & Innovation | Page 10
Blue & Green Day - Donate Life Month
Saving Sight joined the Donate Life Community on April 12th to celebrate Blue & Green Day. Our Saving Sight team went the extra mile to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. Donate Life Blue & Green Day is celebrated annually in April as part of National Donate Life Month. According to Donate Life America, it is held nationwide, “in an effort to promote the success of organ, eye, and tissue transplantation and the extreme need for registered donors.”
Honoring Eye Donors with Bonfire
In 2019, 2,942 heroes gave the gift of sight through eye donation with Saving Sight. This year we chose to honor these donors on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float on New Year’s Day at the Rose Parade. Saving Sight launched a t-shirt fundraiser with Bonfire, a shirt platform that works with nonprofit organizations, and proceeds from the sale of these shirts were used to purchase roses in memory of our donors. Each year, Donate Life’s Rose Parade float features riders representing transplant recipients, living donor walkers, and dozens of memorial “floragraph” portraits of deceased organ, eye and tissue donors. The deck of the float is also covered with thousands of dedicated roses with vials carrying personal messages of love, hope and remembrance. You can view Saving Sight’s Bonfire store at bonfire.com/store/saving-sight. Proceeds from the sale of any future shirts goes to our donor family and recipient education programming. Education & Innovation | Page 11
Continued Collaboration Leads to Further Study of the Development of Myopia Jody Summers, PhD, professor of cell biology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, studies the extracellular matrix of the sclera and changes associated with myopia development. Through her studies, she hopes to understand why myopia interacts the way it does so intervention is possible. “Nearly 50 percent of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050,” says Dr. Summers. “In some countries, such as those in East Asia, myopia is the leading cause of blindness. It can be completely preventable with how the eye responds to the visual environment if we can learn why.” Saving Sight was a co-author on a research project at ARVO 2017 with Dr. Summers. “The ARVO abstract was preliminary research to see if we could isolate those cells,” says Dr. Summers. “We first had a pilot study where Saving Sight provided us with two, reduced fee whole globes. This showed we could isolate the retinoic acid in the choroid.” In summer 2019, Dr. Summers received National Eye Institute at NIH funding to further study the isolated cells through transcriptome analyses. Part of that grant contributes to the fees associated with receiving 10 whole globes or poles (which is the whole eye minus the cornea) from Saving Sight. “This next step is to do it again and do the transcriptome analyses to identify the cells in the choroid that make the retinoic acid.” Dr. Summers adds that collaborations with eye banks and researchers are key because of their ability to provide human eye tissue for research. “NIH funded research hopes to help humans through the betterment of health. Being able to provide tissue like Saving Sight does under the conditions needed is of value because not many eye banks do that.” Click here to read more about this research collaboration.
2019 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Saving Sight and Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine were co-authors on two research presentations at ARVO 2019. These projects highlight how much is gained in advancing research in corneal transplantation through collaborations with eye banks, medical centers and researchers. “Some of our major presentations at the ARVO meeting this year are based on our partnership with the Saving Sight eye bank,” said Dr. Roy Chuck, Chairman of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Montefiore Medical Center. “We think of ourselves as forward-thinking and part of the forward-thinking is figuring out appropriate ways to work with our partners outside of the academic community, which includes eye banks and industry.” Click here to learn more about the research findings. Education & Innovation | Page 12
The Value of Research Collaborations – Eye Banks and Researchers
“The collaboration between Saving Sight and Montefiore is very important and beneficial because we all ultimately have the same goal, which is to restore and improve sight in those in need. By collaborating, we are able to help each other be better in what we respectively do, ultimately leading to better outcomes on both fronts,” said Dan Polla, MD, Ophthalmology Resident at Montefiore Medical Center.
“Working with Saving Sight has been an amazing opportunity for me. I’ve been working on research projects with them that involve looking at their large databases and trying to find factors that influence the quality of the corneal grafts that come out of the eye bank,” said Dr. Gabriel Rand, Second Year Ophthalmology Resident at Montefiore Medical Center. “This has been such an incredible opportunity because, not only as a resident do I get to experience taking care of patients in the clinic and operating room, but I can also participate in the science of advancing care for patients and helping to identify factors that contribute to better grafts and better patient outcomes.”
Education & Innovation | Page 13
Solutions to Meet Clinical & Research Needs Saving Sight offers a variety of tissue processing services to meet the needs of our surgical partners. We follow the most rigorous standards to ensure tissue meets the specific guidelines needed for transplant. All tissue is stored, processed and distributed according to the FDA, Good Tissue Practices 21 CFR 1271, and EBAA medical standards. To learn more about our services, visit saving-sight.org/our-services. Services and Tissue Types Offered: Pre-Loaded DSAEK DSAEK Pre-Loaded DMEK DMEK PKP/LK ALK Sclera Halo Vital Tears Research
Tissue Utilization
69% Surgical Use
31% Non-Surgical Use
Non-Surgical Tissue Utilization
67% Research
33% Education & Training
Vital Tears Autologous Serum Eye Drops Saving Sight is a partner, co-founder, and processor of Vital Tears custom autologous serum eye drops. Vital Tears are eye drops made from the patient’s blood serum. Their blood is diluted with a sterile, preservative-free solution to produce eye drops that are unique to the patient. In 2019, Saving Sight saw huge growth in the number of processed Vital Tears orders in our lab for patients in nearly every state across the country. Offering Vital Tears is another way Saving Sight provides simple and convenient solutions to our clinical partners and patients. Learn more at saving-sight.org/vital-tears. Tissue Utilization | Page 14
Introducing Halo Sterile Tissues In September 2019, Saving Sight began offering Halo sterile tissues. Halo sterile tissue allografts are currently used by ophthalmic surgeons worldwide as a glaucoma shunt cover, or for cornea surgeries like Keratoplasty, ALKP, DALK, and Boston Keratoprosthesis. The halo cornea is sterile and, as such, has no viable endothelial cells. In addition to the Halo sterile cornea, Saving Sight also offers Halo sterile sclera and sterile pericadium. Both are best suited for surgical use in glaucoma shunt coverage. The benefits of Halo sterile tissues are: convenience, corneal clarity, shelf-stability, and sterility. This allows Saving Sight to provide another service to both cornea surgeons and those who specialize in glaucoma, in addition to continuing our work in recovering, processing and distributing donor tissue for corneal transplantation. To learn more, visit saving-sight.org/halo.
Transplant Tissue Distribution by Domestic Geographic Area 72% Saving Sight Service Area Missouri, Kansas, & Illinois 28% Other United States
Request Tissue by Calling Client Services at 816-255-1307
Contact Our Business Development Team for More Information
Get 24/7 support from our Client Services team Request tissue and schedule surgeries online with iTransplant Receive processed tissue 7 days a week
Patrick Gore, RN Chief Business Development Officer 813-753-4487
Lynn Forest-Smith Director of Business Development 727-253-0752
Kevin Wright Business Development Manager 816-255-1354
Tissue Utilization | Page 15
College Student Regains Sight Casey’s Story “Since I had my cornea transplant my experience has been filled with joy because, for the first time, I do not feel like there’s anything that can hold me back,” says Casey. Casey is currently a dual major student studying Criminal Justice and Psychology with credentials in International Conflict and Child/Adolescence Development. When Casey was fifteen years old he developed a cataract on his left eye. Without cataract surgery, doctors said he would go blind in that eye. “However doctors did not know whether the surgery would restore my sight,” said Casey. “I had the surgery and waited a few months to see if my sight would be restored.” “The surgery was successful in removing the cataract and it didn’t leave me blind, but it made my vision worse. However I never told anyone because I didn’t want to feel like a burden.” A few years later, Casey told his family and eye doctors that his vision had worsened in his left eye. His doctors told him he needed a cornea transplant to restore his vision. Casey, now twenty-one years old, says his experience with his cornea surgery was a little frightening. “My doctors had given me so much hope, however I was fearful the surgery would not be successful – I was scared to believe.” Casey’s cornea transplant was a success and his vision is continuing to improve during his healing process. “One of my favorite things to do is play video games and before my transplant I had to literally sit right in front of the television in order to see the game more clearly,” says Casey. He can now see things further away as well. He is able to see road signs more clearly and looks forward to his doctors clearing him to drive. “I have learned a lot during this long process. I learned that there are hundreds of people like me out there who need a second chance at living. I know as a recipient I have the power to spread my message to people. Organizations like Saving Sight are helping to restore sight to those like me who need it,” he adds. “After my cornea transplant I was approached about writing a letter to my donor family and I just loved the idea. Because of their family’s sacrifice, I am now able to see clearly and I just wanted to tell them thank you for what they have done for me. I’m just grateful to my doctors who were amazing and who gave me hope and inspired me and to the donor family who during their tragedy and loss chose to donate. And I’m also very thankful to my family who are awesome people, drove me when I couldn’t drive, and took off work to come to my appointments.”
Recipients of the Gift | Page 16
We Changed the Lives of 3,395 People In 34 States and 35 Countries Supporting Doctor’s International Mission Trips Ukeme Umana, M.D., is a long standing partner of Saving Sight. Dr. Umana is currently the Refractive Surgery Specialist directing the Laser Refractive Institute of the Marion, Illinois Eye Centers. Each year, Dr. Umana participates in mission trips to various regions in Africa, typically going to Nigeria. Dr. Umana has been involved in Eye Medical Mission since 1991, providing basic vision care for those underserved in the area. “I have been going to Nigeria, but added Liberia in 2011,” he says. In 2013, he started performing corneal transplantation in Nigeria.
Saving Sight provided six PK tissues for Dr. Umana to transplant on his recent trip in August 2019. While transplants are a big part of the mission trip, Dr. Umana also takes time to train local physicians. There’s a substantial shortage of physicians with proper training to perform corneal transplants and an even greater shortage of tissue in the area. “Thanks to Saving Sight and others we have been able to restore sight to people in Southeast Nigeria,” says Dr. Umana. “To put in perspective there are about 50 million in this region but no cornea surgery is offered because there’s no eye bank in the country.”
Recipients of the Gift | Page 17
You can change lives by signing up for the donor registry at registerme.org
Eye Donation | Page 18