MEDICAL SURFARI: GIVING THE GIFT OF SIGHT ONE WAY TO HELP OTHERS

About 20 years ago, during the summer, I quit my job in pharmacology research at the University of Missouri and took a new job at the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. I went to work for Dr. Ron Walkenbach, the director of the foundation, who I had met at the university through his teaching of the medical students.

It wasn't long after working there that I learned of the unusual reason that initially motivated him in eye research.

Some years earlier, while Dr. Walkenbach was working toward his doctoral degree in graduate school, he literally became blind in one eye overnight.

Frightened and uncertain of the cause of this, he sought medical attention and his ophthalmologist diagnosed a relatively rare condition called keratoconus.

His doctor explained to him that there was no cure for this condition other than a transplant. No, not an eye transplant but a cornea (the clear, central portion of the eye) transplant.

Surely, some of his first thoughts must have been, how and where do I get a cornea? Who would be willing to give up such a precious thing? If I can find one, who can I trust to cut away part of my own eye to transplant the new cornea? Will it work? What if it doesn't? Will I remain blind or will I regain my sight?

The search began for a healthy cornea with a proper tissue match suitable for this young man's eye.

Fortunately, Dr. Walkenbach knows the answers to these questions now. In fact, some years after his initial loss of sight he lost sight in his other eye.

Once again he faced all of the same issues, and this must have seemed like a recurring nightmare. In each case, he underwent successful corneal transplantation, which completely restored his sight.

I think these events also gave him the vision for the work he has done in eye research and eye banking for more than 20 years at the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. Ironically, the corneas that restored his sight and vision were from the Lions Eye Tissue Bank.

Cornea transplants have been performed since 1905, and more than 700,000 people have had their sight restored since 1961. Yet, despite these enormous strides, 46,000 people need corneal transplants each year.

March has been designated as national eye donor month to place special emphasis on sight-saving programs and to raise awareness of the need to donate. Don't worry, no one will ask you to donate before you're finished with them but once you are, consider the opportunity that you have to restore someone's sight, and perhaps their vision too.

Become an eye donor and change someone's life. If you wish to donate, discuss this with your next of kin so they are informed and can carry out your wish. Also, fill out a Uniform Donor Card. Contact members of your local Lions Clubs or the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation at 1 (800) 753-2265 for further information.

World Wide Web Resources

Eye Bank Association of America

www.restoresight.org

A very helpful part of this Web site is the "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Eye Donation and Corneal Transplantation."

Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation

www.mlerf.org

The headquarters for the Heartland Lions Eye Banks is in Columbia and is one of the largest eye banks in North America in terms of service area.

National Eye Research Foundation

www.nerf.org

This Web site provides the public and health professionals with cutting-edge information on caring for your eyes, diseases and disorders of the eyes, treatment options, and referral sources.