Lions Gift of Sight Today Newsletter:
A publication for our friends and partners
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Neurosciences
University of Minnesota
Spring 2021
© Copyright 2021 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Lions Gift of Sight TODAY is published twice a year by the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Lions Gift of Sight
1000 Westgate Drive - Ste 260
Saint Paul, MN 55114
For more information, visit LionsGiftofSight.UMN.edu or call 1-866-887-4448
Table of Contents
Lions Clubs International Grant
One Year Later: A message from Executive Director Sean Poppoff
March 16 marked the 1-year anniversary of the University of Minnesota’s mandate that employees that could work from home (half of Lions Gift of Sight staff) must work from home. Businesses and organizations across the world were similarly impacted as the pandemic spread from country to country, state to state, and person to person. We had to rethink jobs we thought there was only one way to do. We were encouraged to practice agile thinking and view everything with a fresh eye. Regardless of our age or experience, we felt like rookies, scrambling to render the quality of work we always prided ourselves on.
It is not that eye banks were hit harder than other professions. People’s lives and livelihoods were impacted all over the globe. But it was happening to us, influencing our mission to restore sight. We took it personally, and we were not going to cry uncle! Lions Gift of Sight and eye banks across the United States persevered, thanks in no small part to the networks and leadership infrastructure that has been decades in the making.
I’m a relative newcomer to eye banking. It was only two years ago that I assumed my role as executive director. But short though my tenure is, I have an ever growing admiration for what can only be called a craft, the amazing work of eye banks. This craft has progressed and prospered because eye banks work together for success and because we have the strong leadership of the Eye Bank Association of America.
The EBAA was established in 1961, the first donation oversight agency of its kind. The fledgling organization immediately began gathering statistics, and, by 1962, published its first eye bank activity report. Quality assessment and improvement is built on strong data, and the EBAA recognized this from day one! In 1980, a watershed year, they instituted medical standards. Now all eye banks could be measured with the same ruler, and the EBAA could objectively award accreditation to eye banks. These actions alone would have ensured an extraordinary legacy, but the EBAA continued to offer more: technician training, continuing education, research support, mentor programs for new eye banks, grants for work that benefits eye banking and ophthalmology, and so much more.
Lions Gift of Sight, and its partner eye banks in the EBAA, will survive this pandemic. The need for corneal tissues for transplant and the need for cutting-edge research has not ceased. Working together, we have learned so much in the past year, and we will use this knowledge to meet the needs of the ophthalmology community for many years to come. Thank you for accompanying us on this journey.
Corneal Recipients Give Back
Corneal recipients are an invaluable group of Lions Gift of Sight volunteers. In gratitude for restored sight, recipients work on projects, assist with staff events, and tell their stories to promote donation and the work of eye banks. We owe them our gratitude.
Jessica Moore
Volunteering for Lions Gift of Sight gives me a unique opportunity to combine my love of helping others with making a difference. I volunteer as a speaker for this amazing organization, and I share how I slowly became legally blind and eventually had two cornea transplants that restored my sight. I speak with many Lions members around the state and reaffirm their drive for fundraising.
I also hope my story brings comfort to those who have lost someone and inspires them to become donors themselves because of the difference they made in my life. What I didn’t expect was that their life experiences would change my view as well. I have met many donors’ families, and I cherish their gifts now more than ever.
Paula Freidson
I volunteer to be a voice and a face for eye donation. When people hear my story, my hope is that they remember me when faced with decisions about eye donation. I volunteer because I am grateful every day for the gift of sight. I do not take this gift lightly. I volunteer because it is a way to use my professional skills as a life-long educator. I volunteer as a small way to thank families who have made the decision to donate their loved ones’ corneas so another can see. I believe sharing my story of vision loss to sight has made a positive impact on others. I volunteer because I love supporting an organization I am passionate about.
Carol Mulder
Being a volunteer speaker for Lions Gift of Sight over the years has given me the opportunity not just to share my vision story and the effect my cornea transplant has had on my life but also to thank those who contributed to making that life change happen for me. I speak not only for myself but also as a representative for all recipients who have benefited from the volunteers, professionals, and, most importantly, families who have contributed to our life-changing cornea transplants. I want to thank the donor families for their loved ones’ most generous gifts, given at a time of grief. I hope that by putting a face and a story to a cornea transplant they see the value of the gift and how transformational it is.
Lions Eye Banks & the Barcelona Principles
Lions Gift of Sight was founded as an eye bank firmly rooted in the Lions’ tradition of service to the community and dedication to helping the sight-impaired. As a Lions eye bank, we must follow Lions Clubs International Eye Bank Program Guidelines, adhere to the Lions Code of Ethics, and subscribe to the Barcelona Principles. What might that mean? Here are a few highlights.
Lions eye banks encourage, promote, improve, and establish Lions eye banking internationally, so that quality eye tissue for corneal transplants, research, and other medical purposes may be provided. They publicize the role and service of eye banks.
The Lions Code of Ethics was established from a business point of view, and Lions club members pledge to accept no profit or success at the price of their own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts. They give sympathy to those in distress, aid to the weak, and substance to the needy.
The Barcelona Principles are an agreement on the use of human donated tissue for ocular transplantation, research, and future technologies. The Principles are put out by the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations, an internationally-recognized association that supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Initiative for Medical Products of Human Origin, and the WHO Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation.
“In building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s.”
Lions Clubs International Code of Ethics
Lions Clubs International Grant
The M Health Fairview Lions Eye Surgery Center recently benefited from a $100,000 Lions Clubs International Foundation matching grant. Thanks to LCIF, the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, and Minnesota Lions club members, the center received a Spectralis Flex HRA+OCT2, an amazing piece of equipment that allows doctors to obtain intra-operative images of the retina. Using these images, surgeons can determine the effect of surgery before concluding a procedure, thus reducing the need for a second surgery at a later date. This Spectralis Flex is the first in an operating room in the United States.
LCIF matching grants support the efforts of Lions clubs and partners to serve communities locally and globally. The foundation holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Working with the VA
If you visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, you come across this historical tidbit: The United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world. Caring for Americans who serve actually predates the founding of our nation, and the roots of veterans’ assistance date back to the Plymouth Colony. The work of the VA has greatly evolved in the ensuing centuries, but its drive to serve and honor the men and women who are America’s veterans has been constant.
Lions Gift of Sight has the privilege of working with the VA to help restore sight to its veteran patients through corneal transplants. We are also honored that many veterans choose to donate their eyes after death, helping countless people through transplants, education, and research. The Minneapolis, Saint Cloud, and Fargo VA’s all refer potential eye donors to Lions Gift of Sight. Veterans, like the Lions, are known for their service, and their contributions are considerable.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires hospitals to refer for donation, but the VA is under no such obligation, nor are their hospice facilities. Yet the VA does work with Lions Gift of Sight to refer patients for donation screening, increasing donation opportunities and the potential to restore sight.
The Minneapolis VA (a 2020 Clinical Site of Excellence) is our largest VA donor referral source, so let’s take a brief look at its impact on eye donation. LGS Partner Relations Liaison Mary Yapp notes that, in 2017, Unit 1D, the in-hospital hospice unit at the Minneapolis VA, began referring all patient deaths for donation potential. In 2018, the VA hospital donation committee added social workers to the team, and in 2019 eye, organ, and tissue donation material was placed in the advanced care planning and decedent and survivor packets, distributed across all of Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.
These best practices have resulted in a doubling of calls to the donation referral line from the VA and twice the number of eye donors!
Working with VA hospice is a privilege. The donors that come from the VA are men and women who pledged their lives in order to protect the lives and freedoms of others. Together, the VA and Lions Gift of Sight give these veterans the chance to perform a final act of charity to cap a lifetime of service: hope and healing through eye donation.
We salute our veteran eye donors and thank them for their service to the sight-impaired and to our country.
Eye Bank Association of America: Safety First, Innovation Always
The Eye Bank Association of America has released its 20/20 Year in Review. U.S. eye banks recovered tissue from 54,740 donors, and these donors made possible 66,278 corneal transplants. In addition, more than 17,000 tissues were devoted to research and medical education.
Was eye banking affected by the pandemic? Absolutely! The contributions above were 20 to 30 percent less than those in 2019. Potential donors were ruled out because of COVID-19. Surgeries were postponed or canceled. Eye banks pivoted to remote operations when possible and often worked with reduced staffing.
Yet we prevailed.
Donate Life Month
April is Donate Life Month, and we encourage Americans to register as organ, tissue, and eye donors. We would also like to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. And finally, we want to salute our partners in the donation field: American Donor Services, American Tissue Services Foundation, and LifeSource.
Happy Donate Life Month!
Did You Know?
Many people can be eye donors.
Cataracts, age, poor eyesight, and most types of cancer do not necessarily prohibit someone from becoming an eye donor.
Eye donation is the most common of the three types of donation (organ, tissue, and eye).
See above for reasons why!
Every 7 minutes someone receives a corneal transplant from an EBAA-accredited eye bank.
Corneal transplants are the most commonly-performed type of transplant.
The human eye cannot be transplanted.
Only the cornea (clear window at the front of the eye) and parts of the sclera (white of the eye) are transplantable. However, the whole eye can be donated for research and medical education.
Lions Gift of Sight Donor and Family Recognition Program
Lions Gift of Sight holds programs to honor and recognize our eye donors, and our next event will be on Sunday, May 23. Featured will be donors from 2019 and 2020.
This recognition event will be pre-recorded (not in person) and will include a tribute by corneal surgeon and LGS Medical Director, Joshua Hou, M.D., as well as University of Minnesota research scientist Deb Ferrington, Ph.D. Also featured will be Paige, telling her story as a corneal recipient, and a slide show of 2019 and 2020 eye donors.
Visit https://lionsgiftofsight.umn.edu/Recognition-Program for more information.
Employee Spotlight: Quality Systems
Lions Gift of Sight demonstrates quality at all levels throughout its organization in order to provide high-caliber eye tissue for transplant, research, and medical education. The team that supports the eye bank every step of the way in its commitment to excellence is the Quality Systems Team. So, in this issue, we would like to highlight not an individual but instead this talented team, critical to our eye bank’s success.
Of necessity, Quality Systems has fingers in every pie and assists in the areas of compliance, technical training, policies and procedures, and data.
Compliance
Lions Gift of Sight participates in a rigorous examination and peer review process as a part of the Eye Bank Association America (EBAA) accreditation program. EBAA (Safety First, Innovation Always!) accreditation is the gold standard for eye banking and is recognized by the FDA, CDC, and other federal agencies. Quality is the front line for our accreditation, and Lions Gift of Sight has continuously received the highest level of accreditation from the EBAA in all areas: recovery, storage, tissue evaluation, donor eligibility determination, processing, and final distribution.
Quality also makes sure that the eye bank stands ready to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration at any time. The FDA has performed routine inspections of Lions Gift of Sight many times and has never issued Inspectional Observations or Warning Letters to LGS.
Policies, Procedures, and Training
A regulated profession such as eye banking must have policies and procedures that protect the safety of its workers, the safety of its partner surgeons and researchers, and the safety of eye tissue transplant recipients. Every policy and accompanying procedure is examined for accuracy, best practices, and its effect on all persons involved. The buck stops at the door of the Quality Systems Team, who assumes ultimate responsibility for the eye bank’s compliance and success. The team also audits all aspects of operations and equipment systems on a routine basis. They ensure that personnel receive the training needed for particular tasks and are certified, if needed.
Data Management
A subset of Quality Systems is the Data team. Lions Gift of Sight puts data at the center of conversations, collaborations, and decision-making. Our data assists us in tracking performance and the progress of our processes and outcomes. Our data helps hospitals comply with CMS guidelines. Our data drives best practices that impact outcomes in donation. Strong data leads to innovations, resilience, and transformation!
We value our Quality Systems Team, and support them as they support us.
Donor Spotlight: Steve Magnuson
Steve was devoted to his wife (and best friend), Monica, his two children, Logan and Miranda, and his yellow Labrador, Lucy. He was a proud, self-proclaimed “super geek” who enjoyed playing Dungeons and Dragons, collecting sword replicas, and playing softball on his church team, “The Lost Souls.” His sense of humor and contagious laugh are two things that family and friends especially remember.
Steve had a special love for the Minnesota Twins and baseball. He was a dedicated fan and took any opportunity to attend games. He went to the opening game at the new Target Field and loved every minute. Steve knew the players, the game, and the history. Whenever visiting Florida, one stop was usually to the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, the spring training home of the Twins. He adored outdoor baseball and passed on his love of the sport and the Minnesota twins to both of his children.
Until his untimely death from cancer, Steve took good care of the people in his life. Helping others through donation was in keeping with his generous spirit, and two corneal recipients owe their restored sight to Steve’s donation.
Recipient Spotlight: Jason
Diagnosed with a rapidly-advancing and aggressive case of keratoconus in both eyes, Jason’s life was presented with obstacles he hadn’t expected to face in his twenties. A degenerative eye condition that leaves corneas misshapen and scarred, untreated keratoconus ends in blindness. Period.
Fortunately, corneal transplants are the solution, and Jason received new corneas through the generosity of eye donors. Says Jason, “I am grateful to the entire Lions Gift of Sight organization for providing the highest quality of preserved tissue, enabling my physicians to restore my vision to a manageable state.” Jason’s two successful transplants have now lasted for nearly 10 years.
Jason is a six-year member of the Minnesota Army National Guard, Specialist in Security and Network Communications. A life of service is also expressed through membership in the Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions Club and through volunteering for Lions Gift of Sight.
“Every time I volunteer to share my story, I am moved by the experience, capturing the heart and beauty of sight. Sharing my story has afforded me a platform to encourage others to consider being a donor, while respecting and honoring those individuals and families who have donated the gift of sight.”
About Lions Gift of Sight
Lions Gift of Sight (LGS) is a community-based non-profit eye bank. Founded in 1960, it is the oldest donation organization in Minnesota. LGS serves the needs of donors and recipients in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North Dakota, as well as Galveston, Texas, 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year. LGS distributes corneas for transplant and eyes and corneas for research and medical education.
With a stringent eye bank quality assurance program that audits all aspects of operations, LGS upholds the highest tissue quality standards. LGS is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America, inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, follows OSHA and University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research guidelines. LGS is a proud part of the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.