Ask the Experts - Live Cornea and Eye Donation?
Ask the Experts - Live Cornea and Eye Donation?
I am 38 years old, male, and wish to donate my eyes to someone, preferably a child. Is it possible? Are there risks? What is the success rate for such operations?
Making one person well by making another irreparably ill is not ethical; giving sight to one person by making another blind is not ethical. A similar example in transplantation is the parent who wishes to give their only remaining kidney to their child. This situation would also constitute undo risk and irreparable harm to the donor because it would necessitate the donor going on dialysis.
Regarding cornea (as opposed to eye) donation, I consulted the staff at the New England Eye Bank, and they stated that they are unaware of any living person donating both corneas. However, there has been a directed donation of a single cornea from a living donor in whom 1 eye was enucleated because of a medical condition and the cornea was removed from the enucleated eye.
I am 38 years old, male, and wish to donate my eyes to someone, preferably a child. Is it possible? Are there risks? What is the success rate for such operations?
Making one person well by making another irreparably ill is not ethical; giving sight to one person by making another blind is not ethical. A similar example in transplantation is the parent who wishes to give their only remaining kidney to their child. This situation would also constitute undo risk and irreparable harm to the donor because it would necessitate the donor going on dialysis.
Regarding cornea (as opposed to eye) donation, I consulted the staff at the New England Eye Bank, and they stated that they are unaware of any living person donating both corneas. However, there has been a directed donation of a single cornea from a living donor in whom 1 eye was enucleated because of a medical condition and the cornea was removed from the enucleated eye.
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