Oklahoma Lions Eye Bank

In 1957 Lions of Oklahoma at the State Convention voted unanimously to establish the Oklahoma Lions Eye Bank. The next step was the passage of a bill by state legislators to create a low to allow eye and organ donation after death. Lions across the state lobbied legislators at the State Capitol for passage of the bill to become law. The Lions Eye Bank opened an office in November, 1957 at University Hospital with one employee, medical director, and ophthalmology residents to recover Oklahoma Donated corneas. The first cornea transplants were for a young man age 17 and a young woman age 14. The corneas were donated by a Korean War Veteran. He was a patient at University Hospital. In 1961 the Eye Bank Association of America was established and the Oklahoma Lions Eye Bank became a charter member. The EBAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight through promotion and advancement of eye banking. The organization provides medical standards, policies and procedures, education and certification for Eye Banks, technicians, medical directors, and the executive director. The Lions Eye bank is inspected and certified every three years depending on inspection results.