Category News

November is Eye Donation Month!

Since it was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, Eye Donation Month is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the importance of registering to be a donor, cornea donation and transplantation. This year’s Eye Donation Month campaign is centered around the theme The Power of You—which acknowledges... read more

Since it was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, Eye Donation Month is the perfect... read more

Cornea transplants offer young recipient a chance for an enriched life

Duaa Babekr was just 4 years old when she began experiencing vision problems. Realizing their daughter—the second oldest of their five children—would have to struggle to do things that came naturally to other kids was heartbreaking for her parents, but they tried to stay positive. “It was a hard feeling,”... read more

Duaa Babekr was just 4 years old when she began experiencing vision problems. Realizing their... read more

Born with congenital glaucoma, Lily Schlafauser has dealt with eye problems since birth. She underwent her first cornea transplant at just 15 months old, and has had three more since. "Constant doctors visits, surgeries and eye drops have become a normal part of her life," said Lily's mother, Polly. "It has gotten... read more

Born with congenital glaucoma, Lily Schlafauser has dealt with eye problems since birth. She... read more

Alicia Linde was 16 years old when she was diagnosed with glaucoma. Suddenly, as a high school student, she was thrown into a world of eye tests, doctor visits and the prospect of losing her sight in just a matter of years. “It was very hard to feel normal at that age when you’re dealing with a disease often... read more

Alicia Linde was 16 years old when she was diagnosed with glaucoma. Suddenly, as a high school... read more

‘Eversight is committed to supporting research that may potentially lead to innovative therapies and treatments’

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Eversight has awarded five grants totaling $95,000 through its Center for Eye and Vision Research. The awards were determined by an independent review panel composed of distinguished scientists, ophthalmologists and health services researchers, who selected projects that aligned with the Eversight... read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Eversight has awarded five grants totaling $95,000 through its Center for Eye... read more

Colton’s story

In the middle of a hot Michigan summer, Colton Thompson and his brothers set off for the pond on the family’s property. Colton’s brother had saved up money for a shiny new fishing lure, and it was time to test it out. Along the water’s edge Colton knelt down to tie his shoe, just as his brother drew back the... read more

In the middle of a hot Michigan summer, Colton Thompson and his brothers set off for the pond... read more

Eversight names David Bosch as new President

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — David Bosch, an Illinois native and 22-year veteran in eye, organ and tissue donation, has been promoted to President of Eversight, a nonprofit organization restoring sight and preventing blindness around the world. A respected leader in the field of eye banking, Bosch most recently served as the... read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — David Bosch, an Illinois native and 22-year veteran in eye, organ and tissue... read more

Cornea Society bestows highest award to Eversight Medical Director

Alan Sugar, M.D., a current member of the Eversight Medical Advisory Board, has been awarded the Cornea Society’s Castroviejo Medal, the highest honor given by the organization. The medal, named in honor of Ramon Castroviejo, the father of modern cornea transplant surgery, is given each year to a member of the... read more

Alan Sugar, M.D., a current member of the Eversight Medical Advisory Board, has been awarded the... read more

Spring for Sight

Your contribution to Eversight will be matched by our lead sponsors for the entire month of April—up to $15,000! Proceeds benefit the Dr. John E. Randolph Fund and the Noah C. Moore Scholarship for Technical Advancement. Our mission is to restore sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of... read more

Your contribution to Eversight will be matched by our lead sponsors for the entire month of... read more

‘One extraordinary volunteer’

Marilyn Bartucci was not ready for cold lemonade on the beach, spending her days on the links or puttering around in a garden. The Cleveland native had recently retired, sure, but she had plenty left to offer. During her storied career, Marilyn spent 27 years running the organ transplant program at University... read more

Marilyn Bartucci was not ready for cold lemonade on the beach, spending her days on the links... read more

Seeing is believing

They came to the United States for training and left with the knowledge to transform lives through the gift of sight. Seven surgeons from three countries converged on Eversight for three separate, week-long crash courses on eye banking this winter, observing everything from Eversight technicians recovering and... read more

They came to the United States for training and left with the knowledge to transform lives... read more

‘My own personal heroes’

One of Barbara Van Dorn’s two cornea transplants has a small, barely noticeable “S” stamp. The marker helps physicians position the ultra-thin cornea during the surgical process. But for Barbara, the “S” means something else entirely. “It should stand for Superman,” she said. “Both of my donors... read more

One of Barbara Van Dorn’s two cornea transplants has a small, barely noticeable “S”... read more

A gift that keeps giving

Julie May thought no one would want her eyes. She was born with congenital cataracts and had one removed more than 25 years ago. So why join the Donor Registry? It’s not like she could donate anyway ... At least that’s what she assumed. But as a Lions District Governor in Michigan, Julie has had the... read more

Julie May thought no one would want her eyes. She was born with congenital cataracts and had... read more

Eversight Board members inducted into Michigan Lions Hall of Fame

When Gary Babcock and Robert (Bob) Sturgis, two devoted Eversight Board members, became Lions more than four decades ago, it was never for personal recognition or public gratitude. They just wanted to make a difference in their communities and state. In acknowledgement of their significant impacts on Lionism, Gary and... read more

When Gary Babcock and Robert (Bob) Sturgis, two devoted Eversight Board members, became Lions more... read more

Inform. Inspire. Influence.

With a kind heart, fierce mind and brave spirit, Connor Walsh dreamed of a career in the criminal justice field. He loved helping others, whether it was at school and community outreach events, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout or working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) when he was 16 years old. It was as... read more

With a kind heart, fierce mind and brave spirit, Connor Walsh dreamed of a career in the... read more

Eversight grants reveal a world of possibility

Eversight is accepting 2018 grant applications from Jan. 8 to Apr. 2. Visit our research grant page for more... read more

Eversight is accepting 2018 grant applications from Jan. 8 to Apr. 2. Visit our research grant... read more

9 recipients of 2017 Eye & Vision Research Grants

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Eversight, a global nonprofit network of eye banks, has awarded nine grants totaling $155,323 through its Center for Eye and Vision Research. The awards were determined by an independent review panel composed of distinguished scientists, ophthalmologists and health services researchers, who selected... read more

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Eversight, a global nonprofit network of eye banks, has awarded nine grants... read more

Support the gift of sight

Celebrating Sight honors the healing connections we make through donation and transplantation in the face of adversity. In this collection you will read real letters from donor families and recipients and see favorite sights shared by friends who support our mission. These stories reflect the incredible experiences along... read more

Celebrating Sight honors the healing connections we make through donation and transplantation in... read more

Glaucoma Awareness Month

Make a resolution for healthy vision in 2018. Glaucoma is a condition in which high pressure within the eye causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in partial vision loss or blindness. The best defense against developing glaucoma-related blindness is by having routine, comprehensive eye exams. Glaucoma cannot be cured... read more

Make a resolution for healthy vision in 2018. Glaucoma is a condition in which high pressure within... read more

Eversight receives EBAA research grant targeted at improving cornea transplants

May 26, 2017—Eversight received a $5,160 grant from the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) for research being conducted to reduce and prevent fungal infection in cornea transplants. Although the underlying reason has yet to be identified, global incidence of fungal infections are steadily rising and these... read more

May 26, 2017—Eversight received a $5,160 grant from the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)... read more

Eversight and Statline announce groundbreaking eye bank software solution

April 20, 2017—Eversight and Statline, a leading service provider in the donation and transplant community, announced that they have joined forces to develop an integrated software solution that meets the changing needs of the eye bank community. “We are combining the market and domain knowledge of the Midwire... read more

April 20, 2017—Eversight and Statline, a leading service provider in the donation and transplant... read more

New bill in Illinois

Registered eye, organ and tissue donors in Illinois can now be as young as 16 years old under a measure signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday at the University of Chicago Medicine. House Bill 1805, also known as the Drive for Life act, gives thousands more Illinoisans the opportunity to join the registry each year by... read more

Registered eye, organ and tissue donors in Illinois can now be as young as 16 years old under a... read more

Grant helps Chicago’s uninsured

Eversight received a $14,000 grant from Impact 100 Chicago for its Gift of Sight program that provides charitable tissue services to patients needing a cornea transplant at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The mission of Impact 100 Chicago is to award grants to local nonprofit organizations while... read more

Eversight received a $14,000 grant from Impact 100 Chicago for its Gift of Sight program that... read more

A gift for knowledge

June 15, 2017—Eversight is brimming with some of the most knowledgeable and talented professionals in eye banking because of a commitment to employee development. That promise to cultivate staff growth and skill continues thanks to the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and a $10,000 grant to fund the Gift of... read more

June 15, 2017—Eversight is brimming with some of the most knowledgeable and talented... read more

Vision for a nation

Joining forces with the country’s leading hospitals and vision health organizations, Eversight is developing sustainable solutions to assist the nearly 165,000 Pakistanis suffering with blindness. Collin Ross, Vice President of Global Development, is leading the initiative approved in November by the National... read more

Joining forces with the country’s leading hospitals and vision health organizations, Eversight is... read more

‘Their gifts are going to live on a long time’

They squeezed into the operating room until no one else could fit. Doctors, residents and trainees from the Philippines province of Iloilo stood shoulder to shoulder and watched closely as Dr. Eli Moses got to work. He couldn’t have imagined performing a cornea transplant in front of dozens of people back at home... read more

They squeezed into the operating room until no one else could fit. Doctors, residents and trainees... read more

Advancing knowledge

Dr. Jonathan H. Lass spends a lot of time pondering the future. He has treated thousands of patients as a corneal surgeon at University Hospitals Eye Institute and mentored young physicians for decades as the Charles I Thomas Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University. But what’s kept Dr. Lass’... read more

Dr. Jonathan H. Lass spends a lot of time pondering the future. He has treated thousands of... read more

Nov. 7, 2016, was a day September Vaudrey anticipated for more than eight years. She was finally going to meet the person who received the gift of sight from her daughter, Katie. Katie passed away unexpectedly in 2008, and though she was only 19 years old, she experienced more joy, love and laughter than most people get... read more

Nov. 7, 2016, was a day September Vaudrey anticipated for more than eight years. She was finally... read more

Smiles beyond adversity

For Avery Devereux, every day is a fight to keep her vision. Each morning begins with her mom, Ann, placing two medicated drops into her left eye and applying an ointment along the inside of her lower eyelid. They repeat the process before bed, too, while Avery playfully babbles the names of the drugs as they go. Born... read more

For Avery Devereux, every day is a fight to keep her vision. Each morning begins with her mom, Ann,... read more