Eye Bank of Northern Indiana at Donor Services

Eye Bank

The Eye Bank at Donor Services of Indiana is a non-profit medical facility that provides
human eye tissue for corneal transplants, research and education. We are accredited by the
Eye Bank Association of America.

The Eye Bank is a receiving, processing, and distribution center
for donated human eye tissue. The Eye Bank medical director is
Dr. Michael Hodkins, MD.

The Eye Bank, located in Fort Wayne, is a member of the Eye Bank Association of
America and strictly adheres to their medical standards and Code of Ethics. In addition to

providing corneal and sclera tissue for transplant the Eye
Bank supports numerous research and educational projects.

The Northern Indiana Eye Bank at DSI also:

Conducts educational programs for the public.
Coordinates events from the time of a donor's death to
the transplantation of corneal or scleral tissue.
Maintains a laboratory to receive and process donated
eye tissue and to distribute the tissue to the appropriate
transplant surgeon.
Cooperates and coordinates activities with other member
eye banks of the Eye Bank Association of America for
emergency needs anywhere in the world.

Hospitals, hospice programs, home-health agencies, funeral homes, and nursing homes are important
groups to the on-going efforts of the Eye Bank to increase the quality and quantity of available donor
eye tissue.

Our staff works with designated contacts within these facilities to procure donor tissue for use in
corneal transplants, research programs studying other blinding diseases.

The staff consult with hospitals regarding the proper method for approaching the potential donor
family with sensitivity and compassion.

The Eye Bank employs coordinators who are trained to guide the hospital contact through the steps in
the process. The Eye Bank coordinator will check the patient's donor status and contact the grieving
family about donation. If the patient wished to donate, a medical/social interview is completed with the
family. Then, tissue procurement proceeds. The donor tissue is then processed at the Eye Bank's
laboratory and distributed -- usually to serve patients here in Indiana.

Testing of Donor Tissue
All transplantable tissue is tested by a certified eye bank technician for HIV Ab I/II, HTLV Ab I/II,
HbSAg, HCV Ab, and RPR. All non-transplantable tissue is tested for HIV Ab I/II and for HbSAg.

Tissue Evaluation
All tissue is closely screened by a certified eye bank technician before it is available for offering. All
transplantable tissue is evaluated by Slit Lamp and by Specular Biomicroscopy. After these
evaluations and a review of the donor's medical history, the tissue is released for transplant.

Tissue Distribution and Follow Up
When tissue is sent out for transplant or for medical research, a donor information packet
accompanies the tissue. The FDA requires that these important forms be promptly completed and
returned to the Eye Bank for tracking.

For your information in talking with patients, friends and family, there is a consumer page on the public
path of this website that explains the eye donation process and offers a pledge form for becoming a
donor.

The majority of eye tissue is returned to
help people right here in Indiana.

D O N O R S E R V I C E S O F I N D I A N A