But that number has increased to 75 percent, said Eye Bank board treasurer Dan Vondrachek. Family donation discussions are essential, Swanson said. Swanson said that if a donor's family fails to give permission, even if a donor card has been signed, recovery does not occur. Really, you're talking about death and dying, and really, that's something that people don't typically do. Changing that reluctance, Swanson said, is important because 97 percent of cornea transplants are successful.
Cornea transplants are commonplace.
Swanson said about 46,000 transplants occur each year in the United States and the first such transplants were done around 1906. The Eye Bank, located at Medcenter One but run with Lions funding, averages about 30 donated corneas from 15 people each month. She said families have become much more aware of tissue donation and often approach the hospital themselves, asking about donation. Corneas can be used for such things as education and research of various diseases, Vondrachek said, so donors always are needed. Swanson said studies show that 60 percent to 70 percent of families that refused to allow a donation later questioned their decision.