Some people who wish to become eye donors are too old at the time of death for their corneas to be used for transplant. Often, these individuals are still eligible to donate their eyes for research. Most people who donate their eyes for research to Beauty of Sight are registered donors over the age of 70 years. There is no upper age limit for donating eyes for research.
Occasionally, eye tissue intended for transplant cannot be used due to medical or regulatory reasons. In these instances, the tissue is still valuable for research.
Individuals who suffer from eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and AMD- are
extremely valuable research donors.
This is because disease-specific research requires disease.
• Eyes donated for research are vital in the development of new surgical techniques, medications, technologies, and physician training.
• There is no substitute for human tissue. Many medical breakthroughs are only possible due to the availability of human tissue for research.
• Every cure for every disease humankind has ever encountered began with research.
• Countless lives- for generations to come- can benefit from research discoveries.
• There is no cost to the donor, their family, or their estate for the donation.
• All research tissue is provided by Beauty of Sight at no cost to the researcher.
• Beauty of Sight only provides tissue to not-for-profit entities.
• Beauty of Sight's research program is funded by financial donations from our supporters.