Iowa Lions Eye Bank

Iowa Lions Eye Bank Our mission is to enhance the quality of life through the restoration and preservation of sight.

The Iowa Lions Eye Bank proudly operates as a non-profit, community- based organization, serving 3 million people in Iowa as a vital link between donors and cornea recipients. We are an innovative leader as the only eye bank in the nation to provide all eight tissue preparation services to surgeons locally, nationally and internationally. We diligently serve to honor the memory of donors who have generously given the "Gift of Sight" and pay tribute to donor families who had the strength and courage to make or support the decision to donate at a very difficult time in their lives.

11/28/2025

Since antiquity, the wreath has been a symbol of eternal life and used in memorials. The Wreath of Remembrance in the Mirrored Atrium at the University of Iowa Health Care university campus (Elevator F, Level 1) honors eye, organ, and tissue donors from that hospital in 2024.

The wreath is decorated with personalized ornaments and is adorned with several herbs with specific symbolism. It will be on display through January 5.

The wreath is sponsored by Iowa Lions Eye Bank with support from Iowa Donor Network and the UI Health Care Holiday Committee.

We're giving thanks today to all who work to restore and preserve sight. What are you grateful to be seeing this Thanksg...
11/27/2025

We're giving thanks today to all who work to restore and preserve sight. What are you grateful to be seeing this Thanksgiving?

Eye Donation Month is nearly over, but everyday heroes' work is never done. Neither is the work of some of the supervill...
11/26/2025

Eye Donation Month is nearly over, but everyday heroes' work is never done. Neither is the work of some of the supervillains we battle, who endeavor to steal your sight...

Beulah and Florence Usher were born after the turn of the 20th century in rural Cedar Rapids and traveled on horseback t...
11/25/2025

Beulah and Florence Usher were born after the turn of the 20th century in rural Cedar Rapids and traveled on horseback to and from their Stony Point one-room schoolhouse.

Both sisters had Fuchs Dystrophy, a genetic eye disorder, and underwent corneal transplants with tissue recovered, evaluated, processed, and distributed by Iowa Lions Eye Bank.

The Usher sisters never married and lived together until Beulah’s death in 1994 at age 91. Florence passed away in 2003 at age 98. In gratitude for the care they received, they established an endowment that provides support, and promotes research and education in the area of Cornea/External Disease and Refractive Surgery, which helps fund critical work aiming to cure disorders like Fuchs Dystrophy.

We are deeply thankful for those like the Usher sisters who have supported our efforts to restore and preserve sight. Please consider joining them in making a gift today. Details are on our website.

Sometimes, we are fortunate to connect a donor's loved ones with the recipient of their gift of sight. That's what happe...
11/24/2025

Sometimes, we are fortunate to connect a donor's loved ones with the recipient of their gift of sight.

That's what happened for George Rickey of Iowa City (right), who earlier this year met Bruce Stewart (left), the recipient of one of George's wife, Sally's, corneas. Bruce is happy to report that his vision is even better than before his corneal transplant!

Thank you, George, for sharing this story and photo with us!

Elphie? I registered as an eye, organ and tissue donor. Now so many lives will be changed... FOR GOOD. 💚🩷
11/23/2025

Elphie? I registered as an eye, organ and tissue donor. Now so many lives will be changed... FOR GOOD. 💚🩷

Comic Book Artist Phil Hester, an Iowa bilateral cornea recipient, collaborated with the Eye Bank Association of America...
11/22/2025

Comic Book Artist Phil Hester, an Iowa bilateral cornea recipient, collaborated with the Eye Bank Association of America to reimagine the winners of the Eye Donation Month photo challenge as superheroes. Here are the winners, along with their alter egos!

💪Anne Carleton, a Donor Mother from VisionGift: Anne began painting kindness rocks in her donor son Hayden’s honor—a movement that has now grown to more than 10,000 rocks shared with her community. Each rock is a small act of hope, multiplying Hayden’s legacy and sparking conversations about the power of donation.

💪Danny Torres, Tissue Courier from Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank: Without the timely and reliable delivery of precious tissues, the ability to supply corneas for life-transforming surgeries is severely compromised. Danny has demonstrated that couriers make or break a transplant surgery, and his dedication to and willingness to go above and beyond for our mission is commendable.

💪Alexander John (AJ) Smullen from Lions Eye Bank of the Northeast: AJ's donations saved five lives through his participation in the Donate Life Program, including giving the gift of sight to another individual.

Thank you, Phil, for these beautiful works of art!

One of our everyday heroes is Mackie Malli, your 2026 Junior Miss Clinton County. Mackie's uncle, Robbie, is a cornea re...
11/21/2025

One of our everyday heroes is Mackie Malli, your 2026 Junior Miss Clinton County. Mackie's uncle, Robbie, is a cornea recipient, and Mackie tirelessly promotes the mission of Iowa Lions Eye Bank, even selling her very own homemade bracelets to raise money for us! We asked another one of our everyday heroes, Phil Hester, if he could draw her alter ego. We're pretty pleased with the results! Thank you, Mackie, and thank you Phil! Happy Eye Donation Month!

Are you a patient of University of Iowa Health Care or UnityPoint Health? Now, when you login to MyChart, you can sign u...
11/21/2025

Are you a patient of University of Iowa Health Care or UnityPoint Health? Now, when you login to MyChart, you can sign up as an eye, organ and tissue donor! 💚💙

➡️STEP 1. Login to MyChart
➡️STEP 2. Click the three lines at the top
➡️STEP 3. Select "Health Summary"
➡️STEP 4. Under "Quick Links," click "Organ Donor Registration"

This will take you to a form that allows you to register electronically. You also can authorize donation for research and education.

Pass it on!

Throwback Thursday to last week during that amazing Northern Lights show! ..Now imagine not being able to see it!That's ...
11/20/2025

Throwback Thursday to last week during that amazing Northern Lights show!
..Now imagine not being able to see it!

That's the reality for those with corneal blindness. Instead of a beautiful light show, many are doomed to a life lacking in color and vibrancy.

Change the ending to their story: be an everyday hero and sign up to be a cornea donor.

Our recovery technicians are everyday heroes. Without them, we could not help donors leave a legacy through the gift of ...
11/19/2025

Our recovery technicians are everyday heroes. Without them, we could not help donors leave a legacy through the gift of sight. They often work in the shadows of day or the dark of night, but today we're putting them in the spotlight!

We had a great time connecting with the sisters of Delta Gamma - Drake University this past week, raising awareness of e...
11/18/2025

We had a great time connecting with the sisters of Delta Gamma - Drake University this past week, raising awareness of eye donation! Thank you to everyone who helped us table at the Olmstead Center and those who stopped by!

Delta Gamma's philanthropy is Service to Sight, and we deeply appreciate their work to restore and preserve vision! They truly are everyday heroes!

Address

2500 Crosspark Road, Ste W300
Coralville, IA
52241

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13193354888

Website

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Our Story

The Iowa Lions Eye Bank proudly operates as a non-profit, community-based organization, serving 3 million people in Iowa as a vital link between donors and cornea recipients. We are an innovative leader as the only eye bank in the nation to provide all eight tissue preparation services to surgeons locally, nationally and internationally. We diligently serve to honor the memory of donors who have generously given the "Gift of Sight" and pay tribute to donor families who had the strength and courage to make or support the decision to donate at a very difficult time in their lives.