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TISSUE & EYE DONATION

Changing Lives

Thousands of lives are greatly changed every year thanks to tissue and eye donors. The medical criteria for tissue and eye donation are much different from organ donation criteria. This difference makes it more likely for a person to become a tissue and eye donor.

TISSUE DONATION

The Gift of Healing

A tissue donor can save up to 75 people. In some cases, one tissue donor can impact hundreds of lives.

  • icon bone

    Bone

    Common uses:
    Rebuild bones damaged by injury or disease
    Joint reconstruction
    Spinal fusion surgeries

  • icon bone and cartilage

    Tendons & Ligaments

    Common uses:
    Repair knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries
    Common Injuries: Torn ACL, Rotator cuff, Achilles Tendon

  • heart icon

    Heart Valves

    Common uses:
    Lifesaving surgeries for children with damaged valves and adults with heart defects

  • icon blood vessel

    Veins & Arteries

    Common uses:
    Heart bypass surgery
    Restore blood flow to prevent amputation

  • skin icon

    Skin

    Common uses:
    Heal burns
    Reconstructive surgery after mastectomy

eye donation

The Gift of Sight

An eye donor can give the gift of sight to two people with their corneas and help up to eight more if the whole eye is donated.

Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina from the Blue Ridge parkway
Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina from the Blue Ridge parkway
Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina from the Blue Ridge parkway

Fuch’s Dystrophy causes fluid buildup in the eye. This leads to cloudy vision, glare, and discomfort.  

Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge out into a cone shape. This causes blurry vision and sometimes sensitivity to light.

Lattice Dystrophy causes clumps of protein to form on the cornea. This can cause blurry vision.

AFTER CORNEAL TRANSPLANT

Vision is crisp and clear. Recipients can see and appreciate the precious gift of sight,
watching a beautiful sunset, and seeing their family in a whole new way.

how donation works

Tissue & Eye Donation Process

LifeShare Carolinas is proud to provide corneas to local and regional surgeons. We also work with organizations around the world to help supply doctors in other countries when possible. 

Referral

Referral

  • LifeShare Carolinas is notified of a patient's death.
  • This call can be made by hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, medical examiners, or EMS.
  • LifeShare review's the patient's condition to decide if they can be a tissue and eye donor.
Referral

Consent

Consent

Donation consent is given in one of two ways:

  • If a patient had signed up as a donor, we make every effort to honor that legally-binding decision.
  • If a patient has not made their wishes known, LifeShare asks their family to decide for them.
  • For tissue and eye donors only, this will usually be discussed over the phone.
Consent

Medical History

Medical History

  • LifeShare completes an in-depth questionnaire with the family about the patient’s medical and social history.
  • This process ensures the safety of tissue and eyes for transplantation.
Medical History

Recovery

Recovery

  • Specially trained staff recover tissue and eyes in a hospital or other surgical site.
  • Tissue and eye recovery must take place within 24 hours of the patient's cardiac death.
  • The donated gifts are packed and sent to our partners for the next step.
Recovery

Preparation

Preparation

  • Our partners will turn the donated tissue into grafts that can be transplanted.
  • Surgeons contact our partner organizations to request tissue for their patients.
  • Eye surgeons contact LifeShare to request tissue for their patients.
Preparation

Donor Family Follow Up

Donor Family Follow Up

  • All LifeShare donor families can choose to be sent details about what gifts were recovered.
  • Families can ask for information about how the gifts were used. Because this information can take months to get, families must ask LifeShare to request the information. 
  • Families can also join our Bridge to Healing program for support through the first year.
Donor Family Follow Up