On the recordMarch 10, 2011
March is National Eye Donor Month-- a month--to honor those who have restored sight to blind or vision- impaired Americans across the country. For the last 28 years, since National Eye Donor Month was first established in 1983, the eye donor community has raised public awareness about the need for eye donation. Every March for each of the past 28 years, our Nation has honored dedicated individuals who work tirelessly at hospitals, medical centers, doctors' offices, and eye banks across the country to educate the public on the need for cornea donations and work with the transplant teams. We continue to give thanks to eye donors--and their families--who offered one last remarkable gift because they had the foresight to become organ donors. Eye donation provides a precious second chance at clear vision for those with ocular diseases. Approximately 11.4 million Americans experience severe visual problems that are not correctable by glasses. A parent or grandparent cannot see their children or grandchildren play a little league game or walk across the stage at graduation. And many children experience momentous life events--and everyday happenings-- without the eyesight that many of us take for granted. Thankfully and miraculously, through eye donation and corneal transplants, vision that has been lost to disease or injury or infection can be restored.
