Since its inception in 1972, the Utah Lions Eye Bank (ULEB) has facilitated the gift of sight worldwide. An extension of the Moran Eye Center, ULEB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of sight restoration and preservation through transplant, research, and education. Through the relationship with Moran, ULEB can access industry-leading facilities and support to ensure the organization remains on the cutting edge of advancements in eye banking well into the future. ULEB is uniquely positioned to provide the gift of sight because of its unparalleled access to the donation community and strong partnerships with organ and tissue banking colleagues.
Highly skilled technical staff work around the clock to ensure that every donation is not only safe and of the highest quality, but used in a manner consistent with sight restoration and conservation. ULEB is one of only seven eye banks in the country licensed to offer Patient Ready DMEK® (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) and is capable of meeting a variety of tissue specifications for transplant surgeons.
In the fiscal year 2019, ULEB is proud to have provided nearly $500,000 in goodwill tissue through the Gratis Tissue Program. Working with local, domestic, and international surgeons, ULEB helps to provide transplant tissue for patients in need throughout the world.
To find out more about ULEB, and how to establish partnerships to help facilitate healing through the generosity of others, visit our web page or contact Wade McEntire, director of operations and business development, at 801-581-2039.
Utah Lions Eye Bank By the Numbers in FY 2019
- Processing success rates over 96% for DMEK and over 95% for DSAEK.
- Nearly 60% of tissues provided the gift of sight to individuals outside of Utah.
- 46% of tissues processed were used for penetrating keratoplasty.
- 45% of tissues processed were used for endothelial keratoplasty, and 9% were used for anterior lamellar keratoplasty or other grafting procedures.
- Over 800 tissues were provided for research and medical education.
Advantages of Patient Ready DMEK®
- Tissue carrier (Straiko modified Jones tube) is securely held in corneal viewing chamber.
- Patented Endothelial Delivery System (EDS™) ensures no vials and an easy access chamber.
- Scrolled DMEK graft is stored in 20ml of Optisol-GS with no isolation by plugs or caps.
- Saves time and resources in the OR.
- Pre-punched with a Moria trephine, grafts available in 7.5, 7.75, and 8.0mm, requiring no trephine in the OR.
- Grafts are pre-stained, requiring no trypan blue in the OR.
- Truly Patient Ready, simply attach the carrier to syringe and transplant.
- All Patient Ready DMEK® grafts are evaluated in accordance with EBAA Medical Standards.
- Slit lamp examination and specular images are acquired with the graft scrolled inside the tissue carrier after all processing is complete.