Difference between revisions of "Donate Eyes After Death"

There is a great need for organ donors. Each year in the United States, over 46,000 people have their sight restored by the generous donations of organ and tissue donors.<ref name="rf1">http://www.lcnw.org/donation/organs-tissues-for-transplant/</ref> When you donate your eyes, you're helping restore someone's vision and/or furthering medical research in transplant technology. Learning how to donate your eyes after death can bring a greater sense of purpose to your life and leave a lasting legacy after you pass away.

#Make the decision. When you choose to donate your eyes, your cornea is removed and grafted onto a recipient's eye. Sometimes the sclera (the white part of your eye) is also used for repairing eyelids and rebuilding the rest of someone's eye.<ref name="rf1" /> There are many reasons why people need corneal transplants, but the most common reasons are ocular disease or scarring of the cornea, which would leave the recipient blind or at risk of further health complications.

#* Donations go to recipients of all ages, from newborn children to people over 100 years old.<ref name="rf2">http://restoresight.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf</ref>

#Talk to your family. It's important to let your family know about your wishes to be a donor. Even though you may have made it official, in some states there is still a mandatory next-of-kin cooperation clause. If you keep your family out of the loop on your decision to be a donor, it may delay or even prevent the process, depending on where you live.<ref name="rf2" />

#* In some states, a donor's registration is sufficient, and no next-of-kin consent is required. However, this varies by state.<ref name="rf3">http://www.coleb.org/donatingeyes.htm</ref>

#Seek guidance from a spiritual leader. Some people feel conflicted on becoming a donor because they fear that there may be some religious objection to donation. The fear is that this may violate some spiritual rule, or it could bar a donor from being buried in the cemetery of her choosing. While no religion prohibits donating your eyes or other organs, you may want to consult with your identified spiritual leader if you're feeling some anxiety about this.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Most major religions support the choice to donate eyes, organs, and tissue after death, and those that do not have an official position on the matter usually believe that it is an individual decision.<ref name="rf4">http://www.donorrecovery.org/learn/religion-and-organ-donation/</ref>

#Determine your state's requirements. Every state has different requirements about the donation process, from registering to donate all the way to procuring the donation from the deceased.<ref name="rf5">http://www.corneas.org/index.cfm/ID/139/FuneralProfessionalsFAQ</ref> If you were registered to donate in one state and then relocated, you may have to begin the registration process all over again, and there may be different requirements on how you register.

#* Some states may impose restrictions on the age of the donor, though many do not.<ref name="rf6">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11413401</ref>

#Enroll with a state registry. Every state has its own unique registry of who has enrolled to become an organ donor. No matter what other steps you take to ensure that your donations go to a recipient in need, you should begin by signing up in your state's donor registry.<ref name="rf7">http://www.organdonor.gov/becomingdonor/index.html</ref>

#Donate through a non-profit. Some eye banks and non-profit organizations work with your state's organ donor registry.<ref name="rf5" /> If you haven't already signed up with your state's registry, you can enroll with your state's registry through a non-profit or eye bank in your state.<ref name="rf8">http://www.eyedonation.org/faqs.html#how</ref>

#* Beware of intent registries. While it is still a meaningful gesture, an intent registry is not linked with your state's registry, and your next of kin will still need to give his or her consent.<ref name="rf9">https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/patients/donation/organ/frequently_asked_questions.htm</ref>

#Have a relative make arrangements. Because some states may require next-of-kin consent, it's a good idea to let everyone in your family know about your wishes to become a donor. You may also want to declare your intentions to be a donor in your advance directives, will, and living will to ensure that your final arrangements are carried out.<ref name="rf7" />

#Alert the DMV. While some states allow you to register at the Department of Motor Vehicles, other states may not.<ref name="rf3" /> However, most states allow you to designate your decision to be an organ donor on your driver's license. That way, if anything happens to you, the medical professionals trying to save your life will see your ID and know that they should preserve your organs and alert the parties responsible for donation procurement in your state if you do not survive.<ref name="rf7" />

#* Some states also issue donor wallet cards. These are to be kept in your wallet with your regular ID card, so that medical professionals will know of your desire to donate if they cannot save your life.<ref name="rf9" />

#Learn who is eligible. Almost anyone can be an eye donor. There is no age limit (in most states), and your blood type does not have to match your recipient's blood type. Even if you have poor eyesight, your corneal donation can still be used to help restore someone's vision.<ref name="rf2" />

#* The only conditions that would disqualify your donation is if you had a communicable, life-threatening illness like HIV or hepatitis, or if you died by drowning.<ref name="rf10">https://medicine.tamhsc.edu/willed-body/acceptance.html</ref>  

#* Even cancer does not automatically disqualify you from donating your eyes, though further tests may be performed to ensure that ocular cancer would not be a risk to the recipient.<ref name="rf11">http://www.eyedonation.org/faqs.html#cancer</ref>

#* In the unlikely event that your donation cannot be used for transplants (due to medical complications), your donation can still be used for medical education and transplant research, with your family's consent.<ref name="rf12">http://www.eyedonation.org/faqs.html#donate</ref>

#Know who benefits from your donation. Your donation can help anyone. If you have a specific recipient you would like your family to designate, you may be able to do so.<ref name="rf13">http://www.eyedonation.org/faqs.html#designate</ref> Otherwise, your eye donation goes to whoever needs it the most, usually determined by when a recipient is scheduled for surgery.<ref name="rf14">http://www.huroneye.com/cornea.html</ref>

#* Your donation can help anyone. Donations go to infants, the elderly, and everyone in between, across all races, ethnicities, and genders.<ref name="rf2" />

#Understand the process. When you die, your physician will certify your death. That physician is not involved in procuring donations in any way, and your decision to donate will not affect the quality of your medical care.<ref name="rf2" />

#* The decision to donate must be made quickly, as there is a time limit of only a few hours after you pass before your eyes are no longer usable for transplants.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Corneal and ocular donations are only viable for transplant for up to 14 days. However, most donations are used within one to four days due to the great need for donations.<ref name="rf15">http://www.eyedonation.org/faqs.html#stored</ref>

#* The person receiving your donation has the surgery performed at an outpatient facility.<ref name="rf14" /> Corneal transplant surgeries have an incredibly high success rate, with over 95% of recipients having successfully-restored vision.