Iowa Lions Eye Bank

07/31/2026

We were pleased to host Rachel Dellovechio of Lions Eye Bank of Nebraska this week at ILEB! Rachel trained with Processing Services Manager Chelsea Green on the DSAEK processing technique.

07/29/2026

Could Eumaeus be an eye donor?

The adaptation of the classic Homeric poem, "The Odyssey," is breaking records at the box office this month. It features the blind swineherd Eumaeus, portrayed by John Leguizamo. It's unclear what type of blindness he is suffering from, but at some points it looks like he might have some seriously bad cataracts.

Of course, they didn't have cataract surgery or corneal transplants in the 12th century BCE... but if they had, and Eumaeus had access to the best ophthalmologists, he could still be an eye donor! His eyes could potentially be used for corneal transplants, research or training the future health professionals of Ithaca.

Now, regarding that Cyclops... (spoiler alert) he likely suffered a serious corneal injury, among other ocular damage, when Odysseus and his gang staged their escape. His screams of pain were understandable! If the gods couldn't help, the docs probably wouldn't have been able to help either.

07/29/2026

Eye Drop Recall Alert!

EYE DROP RECALL | Nearly 12 million cartons of Rohto eye drops are under recall due to sterility concerns. Check your medicine cabinet for these products: https://www.wqad.com/article/news/nation-world/rohto-eye-drops-recall-full-list/507-761f74a4-d148-4673-a09b-5a6ed9d8239d?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WQAD

07/09/2026

Recall for eye drops issued. 👇

EYE DROP RECALL | More than 2.5 million bottles of prescription eye drops may contain a foreign substance. Check your medicine cabinet for these products: https://www.wqad.com/article/news/nation-world/eye-drops-recalled-prednisolone-acetate-ophthalmic-suspension/507-37e9d053-a906-4edf-ba83-e52203f039c1?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WQAD

07/06/2026

Congratulations to the new Lions International President Mark Lyon, who ascended to the top job this weekend at the Lions Clubs International convention in Hong Kong, China! We were proud to host him and his wife Lyn for a tour of our headquarters last June alongside Bernadette Lane, Ardie Klemish and Ken Klemish of the Iowa Lions. We are so grateful for our relationship with the Lions and treasure our bond.

06/30/2026

Come join our team! We are now hiring for an administrative services coordinator.

Link in comments!

06/24/2026

Two of our University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences residents, Dr. Patrick Donegan and Dr. Noor-Us-Sabah Ahmad, visited the eye bank this week to learn more about how we restore and preserve sight. Thank you for coming!

06/15/2026

Hey, do you have MyChart? 🩺

Did you know you can sign up as an eye, organ and tissue donor in your MyChart app? 📱

According to recent statistics:
☑️More than 400 patients at Mary Greeley Medical Center have registered via MyChart
☑️More than 200 patients at Mercy Cedar Rapids gave registered via MyChart
☑️Nearly 6,000 patients at UnityPoint Health hospitals have registered via MyChart
☑️Nearly 2,500 patients at University of Iowa Health Care have registered via MyChart

Let your friends know they can sign up in MyChart, and lets continue to be known for "Iowa Nice" by giving the gift of life and sight!

06/11/2026

We are thrilled to share that Eli Monshon, BS, a third-year medical student at the Carver College of Medicine received the 2026 Best Paper of Session Award from the Eye Bank Association of America for "Mitochondrial Responses to Hyperglycemia and Insulin Rescue in Human Corneal Endothelium." The paper was presented during the EBAA's annual meeting last week in Indianapolis.

Monshon conducts his research in the laboratory of our medical director, Dr. Mark Greiner of the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

Congratulations Eli!

06/10/2026

Please join us in congratulating our executive director, Esther Baker, on being elected to the Board of Directors of the Eye Bank Association of America as Speaker of the House of Delegates!