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The first Corneal Bank in East Anglia is located at the BUPA Hospital in Norwich, a joint venture between NHS, BUPA and the Lions Clubs International (District 101 EA). There was insufficient space to accommodate the Bank at the West Norwich Hospital where the Ophthalmic Department is situated and so, at the suggestion of the BUPA Hospital Manager, Mr Paul Hanke, It came to the BUPA Colney Lane site.

We present a brief report on the activities of the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank. This eye bank receives and supplies tissue to several midwestern states. In addition, it plays a vital role in providing tissue for research and training at the University of Minnesota. In association with the Department of Ophthalmology, the eye bank is also actively involved in the research and development of various corneal preservation systems. Included below is information relative to procedures used in the eye bank for the selection and collection of donor material; the decontamination, preparation, and storage of corneas; cost of eye bank services; and staff coverage. Also included is some data on the number of eyes received and processed and the eventual uses of the tissues, during the last ten years.

According to the World Health Organization, world blindness has been put between 28 to 42 million. Of this number, well over 10 million are corneally blind. Tissue Banks International, TBI, through its international division known as the International Federation of Eye Banks, IFEB, is assisting in establishing regional eye banks on a global basis. The experiences of TBI in the United States have provided a model system of eye banking and, as an outgrowth of this system, an international network may be established. It is hoped that this international network of eye banks will generate eye tissue which can be shared with those parts of the world where no eye banking system currently exists.

The Lions Eye Bank of South Australia was established six years ago and has collected corneas from 790 donors. The consent rate is currently 82% of requests made. Two-thirds of donors have been male, with mean donor age/year varying from 54 to 64 years (range two to 93 years). Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, trauma and haemorrhage account for 80% of all donor deaths. Mean death to enucleation time is five hours. Corneas assessed as being of excellent or very good quality are released preferentially from the bank; those with central endothelial cell counts of less than 1500 cells/mm2 are discarded. Fewer than 1% of donors have returned a positive result for HIV or hepatitis B. Of the 1580 corneas collected by the bank, 863 (55%) have been used for transplantation with a primary non-function rate of 0.46%. The evolving policies, logistics of operation and methodologies employed by the bank are described in detail.

Ophthalmology has accepted the primary responsibility for supervision and control of the medical aspect of eye banking. Operating within the framework of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Eye Bank Association of America, Medical Standards have been promulgated which recognize the need for standardization and quality control throughout the eye banking procedures. The role of the Medical Director and the Medical Standards Committee has been strengthened. Challenges to be met include increasing the supply of donor tissue, the development of a statistical data base, research to expand endothelial viability, the incorporation of new technology, and the necessity to develop resources to combat an increasingly hostile financial and political environment in our nation's hospitals.