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Cornea
Who can be a Donor?
Anyone with healthy eyes can donate corneas. A Uniform Donor Card is available at most
automobile registries or by calling The New England Eye Bank (617-523-3937). The donation of
a cornea from a healthy eye can be a gift that lives on. There is no need to match donor and
recipient by eye color, age or sex. The whole eye is not transplanted; this is not yet
possible. A family will sometimes refuse permission for their loved one to donate corneas
because they are under the incorrect impression that the body will be disfigured; this is
not so. Only the cornea is needed.
There is never a cost for donation to the donor family. The recipient must pay the
cost. Medicare covers this cost to the eye bank. Most private insurers cover this cost, but
it is always advisable to check specifics with your own insurance company.
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