Vision-Restoring Corneal Transplants Performed in 2023 Have a Lifetime Net Benefit of Nearly $8 Billion

Washington, DC– (May 13, 2024) – Corneal transplants performed in the United States
last year will result in nearly $8 billion in total net benefits over the lifetime of the recipients,
according to a recently updated study by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA).

The study compared the medical cost of transplant procedures to the direct and indirect lifetime costs of the alternative – living with blindness or severe vision impairment. With a corneal transplant, an individual avoids the direct expenditures that come with vision loss, such as higher routine medical costs, long-term care costs, and the indirect costs of potential years of lost productivity to both the patient and their caregivers.

Eye disorders are the fifth costliest to the U.S. economy after heart disease, cancer, emotional disorders, and pulmonary conditions.

“EBAA represents the 56 eye banks in the U.S. providing corneal tissue to over 80,000
recipients domestically and around the world each year,” said EBAA President & CEO Kevin
Corcoran. “I’ve spoken with cornea recipients and have felt the emotional impact of restoring someone’s vision. Now we understand, in real numbers, the economic impact of our work. It’s all made possible through the generosity of cornea donors and the care and dedication of EBAAmember eye banks and corneal surgeons.”

EBAA commissioned The Lewin Group in 2013 to determine the economic impact of corneal transplants. The data is updated annually to reflect increases in the number of transplants performed in the United States and changes in the cost of medical care.

Since EBAA’s founding in 1961, more than two million individuals have received sight-restoring corneal transplants. With a success rate greater than 95%, the procedure restores the patient’s sight and quality of life. The restoration of sight is particularly valuable to Medicaid beneficiaries. These are our society’s most economically disadvantaged members; loss of vision compounds their challenges, making their journey to financial independence infinitely more difficult. This study clearly demonstrates that providing access to corneal transplants is a cost-effective way to support their economic health.

For more information about cornea donation and transplantation, or about this study, please
contact EBAA at info@restoresight.org.

The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) is the oldest transplant association in the U.S. EBAA leads the transplantation field by establishing medical standards, maintaining accreditation requirements, providing comprehensive training and certification programs for
eye bank personnel, and engages in advocacy to support eye donation, corneal transplantation, and research. EBAA member eye banks have provided tissue for more than 2 million sight-restoring corneal transplants. To learn more, visit restoresight.org