News & Stories

Changing Lives Every Day

News & Stories

9,074 Miles to Miracles - Iowa Lions Eye Bank Restoring Sight in Eswatini

Gift of Sight

Iowa Lions Eye Bank (ILEB) provides the gift of sight to those in need of a corneal transplant—whether the recipients reside in Iowa or more than 9,000 miles away in one of the smallest countries in Africa. Through the eye bank’s long-standing relationship with Dr. Matthew S.

2022 Celebration of Hope & Renewal

General News

The Iowa Lions Eye Bank Celebration of Hope & Renewal took place on Saturday, May 21, 2022 in the Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden. The Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden honors and celebrates the gifts given by Iowa families and the work of all who facilitate and support the donation and transplantation process.

Donor Heroes

Gift of Sight

Charlie Hewitt from Parkersburg, Iowa, understands the gift of donation from both sides. Six years before Charlie received the gift of sight through a corneal transplant—thanks to the altruism of a deceased cornea donor—his wife, Judy Hewitt, received the gift of life through a kidney transplant.

2021 Impact Map

General News

880 Iowa donors provided corneal transplant tissue for 624 recipients in 2021. Additional gifted corneas were used for research and educational purposes to advance knowledge of blindness-causing diseases and transplantation technique. Click HERE to view the full image.

2021 Celebration of Hope and Renewal Video

General News

The Iowa Lions Eye Bank Celebration of Hope & Renewal took place on Thursday, September 9 in the Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden. The Iowa Lions Donor Memorial & Healing Garden honors and celebrates the gifts given by Iowa families and the work of all who facilitate and support the donation and transplantation process.

Avery's Hope

Gift of Sight

When Emily and Adam from Iowa City welcomed their third child into the world on October 5, 2020, their doctor noticed immediately there was a problem with little Avery’s eyes.

ILEB 2020 Impact Map

General News

Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Iowa Lions Eye Bank was able to restore sight to 652 individuals through the generous gift of cornea donation from 790 Iowans in 2020! Click HERE to view the full size image.