VisionGift

11/17/2025

Driven by data. Powered by collaboration. Focused on impact.

Say hello to Kody Westrick, CEBT, our VP of Donor Services, who turns metrics into momentum. From process improvements to program health, his work helps us serve more people - more effectively - every day.

11/14/2025

This November, communities of faith honor the lifesaving and life-restoring gifts of donation. For those with corneal blindness, the gift of sight is especially profound -restoring independence, connection, and hope.

This National Donor Sabbath, we celebrate the healing power of eye & cornea donation, and the generosity of donors and their families.

11/12/2025

This disorder–a progressive thinning of the cornea–is the most common corneal dystrophy in the U.S., affecting one in every 2,000 Americans. It typically manifests itself early in life, and is most prevalent in teenagers and adults in their 20s.

arises when the middle of the cornea thins and gradually bulges outward from the pressure inside the eye, forming a rounded cone shape. This abnormal curvature changes the cornea’s refractive power, producing moderate to severe distortion (astigmatism) and blurriness (nearsightedness) of vision. Keratoconus may also cause swelling and sight-impairing scarring of the tissue.

11/10/2025

Our ongoing video series '5 Questions' returns! This time we throw VisionGift CEO Chris Stoeger in-front of the camera. Thanks for being a good sport, Chris! 😀 👏

11/07/2025

What cool news for ! Donate Life America shared Ellie and Silas' story! If you can, please SHARE this story and help raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honor the gift of sight given by donors and their families, and celebrate cornea transplant recipients who are now able to live their lives to the fullest. - Eye Bank Association of America

Grabbing for a toy may look like normal infant behavior, but for Silas, this moment meant that he could finally see. Silas was born in December 2023 with a very rare eye condition that causes the cornea to become opaque rather than clear, and his mother, Ellie, was told he would be blind. After getting a second opinion, cornea experts at OSHU Casey Eye Institute suggested cornea transplants could help restore sight to both eyes and he had his first procedure in March of 2024. Because Silas’ condition was so rare, they couldn’t be certain the treatment would work – until Silas reached out for the toy. At almost 2 years old, he has had three corneal transplant surgeries. The older Silas gets, the fewer transplants he’ll need. Ellie is hopeful the next one will be able to last up to five years, and Silas’ care team is hopeful he’ll go on to have a relatively clear vision with little to no issues.

November is Eye Donation Month! All month long, we will help raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honor the gift of sight given by donors and their families, and celebrate cornea transplant recipients who are now able to live their lives to the fullest. Join us in spreading the word and helping to give the gift of sight! 💙💚 Thank you to VisionGift for this follow-up story!

11/06/2025

Phil Hester is a cornea transplant recipient and a celebrated comic book artist. For Eye Donation Month 2025, Phil brought “Everyday Heroes” to life, turning community-submitted photos into vibrant comic book covers that honor the gift of sight.

If Phil’s story inspires you, consider registering as a donor and helping more “everyday heroes” see their next chapter.

Video courtesy of Iowa Lions Eye Bank. Thank you for sharing Phil’s story and creativity with the world.

11/05/2025

What cool news! Donate Life America just shared Ellie and Silas' story for !

Please also share this story and help raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honor the gift of sight given by donors and their families, and celebrate cornea transplant recipients who are now able to live their lives to the fullest.

Grabbing for a toy may look like normal infant behavior, but for Silas, this moment meant that he could finally see. Silas was born in December 2023 with a very rare eye condition that causes the cornea to become opaque rather than clear, and his mother, Ellie, was told he would be blind. After getting a second opinion, cornea experts at OSHU Casey Eye Institute suggested cornea transplants could help restore sight to both eyes and he had his first procedure in March of 2024. Because Silas’ condition was so rare, they couldn’t be certain the treatment would work – until Silas reached out for the toy. At almost 2 years old, he has had three corneal transplant surgeries. The older Silas gets, the fewer transplants he’ll need. Ellie is hopeful the next one will be able to last up to five years, and Silas’ care team is hopeful he’ll go on to have a relatively clear vision with little to no issues.

November is Eye Donation Month! All month long, we will help raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honor the gift of sight given by donors and their families, and celebrate cornea transplant recipients who are now able to live their lives to the fullest. Join us in spreading the word and helping to give the gift of sight! 💙💚 Thank you to VisionGift for this follow-up story!

11/03/2025

November is Eye Donation Month! All month long, we’re celebrating the gift of sight -honoring selfless donors and their families, and cheering on recipients whose lives have been transformed.

Quick fact: “eye donation” doesn’t mean the whole eye is transplanted. It’s the cornea -the clear, dome-shaped “window” at the front of the eye - that can be replaced to restore sight for people with cornea-related blindness.

Join us and the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) in spreading the word!

Register as a donor / Share this post to raise awareness / Tag someone who inspires you to

10/31/2025

There's nothing scary about cornea donation. Restoring sight to two people can be quite the treat! Happy Halloween!

10/30/2025

Big pop culture win for donation! A new study from USC’s Norman Lear Center shows the Emmy-winning show “The Pitt” helped move people to learn and share about donation. 26.9% said they were more likely to seek out info after watching, and 17.2% shared that info with others. Stories change lives. So does registering as a donor.

According to a new study from the USC Norman Lear Center, HBO Max's 'The Pitt' has inspired more talk of organ donation and end-of-life planning.

10/27/2025

Today, we honor the birthday of visionary artist Roy Lichtenstein, whose bold, iconic pop art continues to inspire. His unique perspective reminds us of the incredible power of vision to create, imagine, and connect.

At VisionGift, we celebrate all the ways vision enriches our lives and remain dedicated to restoring sight for those in need.

Here’s to seeing the world as a masterpiece—just like Lichtenstein did.

10/24/2025

Thank you for helping us restore sight, Vision Plastics, Inc.

Innovia Medical / Eversight