Awards

IU Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award - 2012

About Indiana Lions Eye Bank Inc.

The Indiana Lions Eye Bank is a non-profit corporation committed to helping those in need of eye transplants. They are the largest eye bank in the state and have been providing eye tissue from transplant since 1959. In their first 50 years of service, the Eye Bank helped over 30 thousand individuals regain their vision through cornea transplants. As the primary supplier of cornea tissue in Indiana, the Eye Bank provides over 1900 corneas for transplant annually.

The Eye Bank has been a major contributor to the Indiana University Department of Ophthalmology for almost six decades. Their focus has been on helping patients in need of corneal and eye tissue transplants and providing tissue and equipment for research and patient care. In 2012, the bank has directed support to the School of Medicine to purchase the Eyesi Surgical Simulator for use in intraocular surgical training. With the aid of the simulator, students can practice cataract and vitreoretinal surgery on an artificial eye without risk to a live patient and other teaching modules in the simulator enable advancement of clinical eye examination skills. The simulator is an essential tool in training the next generation of ophthalmologists. For extraordinary support and heroic efforts on behalf of patients enduring life with compromised sight, the Indiana University School of Medicine honored the Lions Eye Bank with a 2012 IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award.