For Immediate Release
85,441 Cornea Transplants were Performed in the United States in 2018
WASHINGTON D.C. (April 8, 2019) – The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) has released its 2018 Eye Banking Statistical Report which includes data from all 57 U.S. and 11 international member eye bank reporting entities for the calendar year 2018. The report represents a complete picture of eye banking activity within the United States and a representative view of international eye banking.
In 2018. U.S. eye banks reported 133,576 total tissue recoveries from 68,102 donors in 2018. Although these numbers decreased slightly from 2017, the transplant rate increased from 68.3% in 2017 to 69.4% in 2018, which indicates better efficiencies by U.S. eye banks. For the fifth year in a row, more cornea donors (58.2%) were listed on a donor registry than not.
“Our association represents over 90 eye banks, providing corneal tissue to over 80,000 recipients each year,” said Kevin Corcoran, President and CEO of the Eye Bank Association of America. “I am proud that EBAA member banks continue to provide the gift of sight to recipients around the world. Since 1961, member eye banks have provided tissue for over 1,954,600 people whose sight was restored through corneal transplants.”
The total number of U.S.-supplied corneas distributed for keratoplasty (including long-term preserved tissue) was 85,441, a 1.4% increase from 84,297 in the previous year. 51,294 intermediate-term preserved corneas were transplanted in the U.S. and 27,913 were distributed internationally in 2018.
“We are humbled by the generosity of the selfless donors and their families who make the decision to give the gift of sight,” said Woodford Van Meter, Chair, Board of Directors, Eye Bank Association of America, “We will continue to work tirelessly to maximize that gift for the restoration of sight worldwide and appreciate the sacrifice of donors and their families everywhere.”
For more information about the Eye Bank Association of America and the work of our member eye banks, visit restoresight.org.