Abstract
Background Ever since the first successful keratoplasty in 1905, there has been a need to store
corneas for transplantation. R. Townley Paton founded the first eye bank in New York
in 1944. With Helen Kellerʼs call in 1925 for LIONS to “constitute themselves Knights
of the Blind in the crusade against darkness”, LIONS Clubs International has become
involved in the establishment of eye banks worldwide. This paper presents the development
of eye banking in general and with special attention to the support offered by LIONS
Clubs.
Methods Selective literature search through PubMed, Google Scholar and Google in close cooperation
with the LIONS Eye Banks already established in Germany, LIONS Clubs International
(USA) and the Julius Hirschberg Society (Austria). Analysis focused on the founding
processes of 6 German eye banks and their current services.
Results Filatov was the first to keep donor eyes in a cool, moist container for a few days.
In 1973, Summerlin et al described the technique of organ culture for donor corneas,
and McCarey & Kaufman described a liquid storage medium in 1974. LIONS Clubs International
and their organisational structure first supported an eye bank in the US in 1952,
outside America in Hong Kong in 1962 and in Germany in 1969. Funding is provided across
all levels of LIONS as network support and material resources. In general, staff funding
is not provided. Of the 88 eye banks operating worldwide today, 44 are called LIONS
Eye Banks. 6 of the current 26 eye banks in Germany are operating under LIONS sponsorship
and run by departments of ophthalmology at university medical centres. Although the
number of transplants has increased in recent years due to new surgical techniques,
the number of patients waiting for donor tissue is also growing as a result of the
broadening
indication.
Conclusions Even today, the availability of donor corneas limits patient care. Eye banks help
to meet the need for donor corneas. However, the techniques and technical equipment
of eye banks must undergo continuous improvement. The local, national and international
network of LIONS Clubs can assist in establishing these in order to facilitate legal
requirements and structural developments. This support frequently lasts for many years,
often triggers additional public commitment and is thus also a supporting element
for the future development of eye banking in Germany.
Key words
keratoplasty - eye banking - LIONS Clubs
