History of Eye Banking
As early as the 18th century, medical scientists began studying the possibility of restoring sight to the visually impaired who had suffered vision loss from a damaged or diseased cornea.  They reasoned that sight may be regained if the damaged or scarred corneal tissue could be removed and replaced with clear, healthy tissue.  Artificial materials were found to be of little use and only human eye tissue offered hope for real success.

The first eye bank was established in New York in 1944 and is one of over 115 eye banks in the United States and Canada today who are members of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA).

How We Began
The first eye bank in Virginia was organized through the Medical College of Virginia in 1956.  Soon after its development, Lions Clubs in central, eastern and northern Virginia expressed interest in supporting the program to preserve and restore sight to the visually impaired.  By 1962, the eye bank reorganized under the direction of a new Board of Directors as an autonomous, non-profit organization known as Old Dominion Eye Foundation, Inc.

Sponsors
Today ODEF is supported by multiple Lions Clubs throughout districts 24-A, B, C, E, and F.  Each Lions district has a District Eye Bank Chairman who serves on the Board of Directors and spends many hours each year visiting clubs and promoting the welfare and progress of ODEF.  Our Board of Directors consists of members of local Lions Clubs, corneal surgeons, and professionals from within the community.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Eye Foundation in honor or memory of a loved one please contact us.

Service Provisions
ODEF is a receiving, processing, research and distribution center for donated human eye tissue.  ODEF is accredited through the Eye Bank Association of America and strictly adheres to their medical standards and Code of Ethics. In addition to providing corneal tissue for transplant the Eye Foundation supports more than 30 research and educational projects. Donated eye tissue is used to find cures for blinding disorders such as Glaucoma, Diabetes related eye disorders, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many more.

ODEF also:

• Conducts informational and educational programs for the public with assistance from Lions Clubs.  Information is available through brochures, oral presentations through our Speakers Bureau, audio-visual materials and community awareness events.
• Coordinates events from the time of a donor's death to the transplantation of corneal or scleral tissue.
• Maintains a laboratory to receive and process donated eye tissue and to distribute the tissue to the appropriate transplant surgeon.
• Cooperates and coordinates activities with member Eye Banks of the Eye Bank Association of America for emergency needs anywhere in the world.

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