Corneal Recipients

Corneas are precious gifts from eye donors and their family members. They are generously given to restore another person’s sight. Eye banks facilitate this from recovery to distribution. 

You received a donated human cornea graft from Lions Gift of Sight, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We are a nonprofit eye bank, part of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, and supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. U.S. eye banks are accredited and inspected by the Eye Bank Association of America and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Reaching out to a donor family 

Many cornea recipients choose to write a letter to the family of their cornea donor(s) to say thank you, however there is no obligation or set time frame to do this. Lions Gift of Sight acts as an intermediary between eye donor families and recipients. 

How to write a letter

• Write your message to the donor family, either as a letter or in a card. Place it in an unsealed envelope.
• Include a separate sheet with your name, address and phone number — this will be removed before we send the letter to the family and Lions Gift of Sight will use it to contact you if the family sends you a response.  
• Mail it to us:
  • Jodi Altenhofen, Lions Gift of Sight, 1000 Westgate Drive, Suite 260, Saint Paul, MN, 55114
• We will review your message for confidentiality and remove any identifying information.

Writing suggestions

Use simple language and communicate in a sensitive manner. Write information you feel comfortable sharing about yourself (e.g., occupation, hobbies, and things that are special to you). 

Please do not share identifying information, including your last name, your address, your phone number or your transplant date.

Sample phrases

• I am sorry for your loss.
• I wanted to let you know what a difference your kindness has made in my life.
• I am grateful for the opportunity your loved one’s donation has given me to lead a normal, active life.
• Thank you for entrusting me with this gift from your loved one.

Please keep in mind that the correspondence process takes time. Some people respond right away and others choose not to respond at all.