Cornea Donation
Since 1960, Saving Sight has coordinated cornea donation and the distribution of corneas for transplant. Today, we operate in Missouri, Kansas, and central Illinois, and we distribute corneas to transplant surgeons in those states, the rest of the U.S., and around the world to help people receive the precious gift of sight.
Help us spread the message about eye, organ, and tissue donation in your community. If you haven’t yet, register your choice to donate online at Donate Life America or your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. And be sure to speak with your family about your decision.
Veteran and Minister is Able to Return to His Work Thanks to Cornea Transplant
Tom suffers from Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy, a hereditary disease that causes fluid buildup as the cornea’s endothelial cells deteriorate, but he didn’t know that at first. “I thought I was having trouble with allergies and dry eyes – that I was getting older,” Tom...
A Teacher’s Journey to Regain Her Sight
Charlene, a cornea transplant recipient from De Soto, KS, calls her experience with transplantation a “journey.” With her sight diminishing, she worried about her position as a third grade teacher in a parochial grade school. “Teaching is what I have done,” she said,...
A Bike Ride for Personal Health and Vision Health
Meet Jasmine. She works in the Donor Services Center at the Columbia, MO office. As a Family Services Coordinator, she offers donor families support and information during the eye donation process. Working with so many donor families has inspired her to take control...
Donation as Legacy
A Young Man's Legacy: Coices of Independence and Donation I. “Everybody loved Danial, and he loved everyone.” When Danial Miller was born with spina bifida, the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States, his mother, Terri, decided she would...
Cornea Transplant Recipient Gives Back to Her Community
For years, Judy of Manhattan, Kan. struggled with vision loss due to Fuchs' dystrophy, a degenerative disease of the cornea. As the condition progressed, she had difficulties reading a phone book or seeing the license plate on the car in front of her. By the time her...
Pain Disappears, Sight Reappears After Cornea Transplant
Losing your eyesight is incredibly devastating on its own. But to suffer from unbearable pain while your vision quickly vanishes is something many of us can’t imagine. Since she was a child, Elaine of East Alton, Ill. had problems with her eyesight. She underwent two...
Vision Restored Within One Day for St. Louis Transplant Recipient
For five years, Robin of St. Louis adapted her life around her declining vision. Yet, because of two generous donor families and a talented eye surgeon, her lost vision was restored soon after her cornea transplants. In 2007, Robin, a busy working mom and business...
A Mission in a Daughter’s Memory
Mariah was a vivacious, outgoing 18-year-old when she lost her life in a texting while driving accident. Determined not to let her death be in vain, Mariah’s mother, Merry, has been on mission to save the lives of other teens – both as a spokesperson for...
Gift of Sight Strengthens Recipient’s Quality of Life
Like many individuals suffering from Fuchs’ dystrophy, a degenerative disease of the cornea, Jackie of Raytown, MO. was able to adapt her life around her condition. But as the disease progressed and her ability to participate in her favorite activities began to...
A Pledge from the Heart and Peace for a Donor Family
When Chris of Jefferson City signed the back of his driver’s license, pledging to be an organ donor, he wasn’t sure donation would be possible if something happened to him because he had diabetes. Yet, according to his sister, Cheryl, his compassion for others led him...