How to Donate Your Eyes

Organ and tissue donations are in great demand. According to OrganDonor.gov, 19 people die each day waiting for such donations. Eye donations are important because there is no substitute for human tissue; operation success rates with donated corneas are higher than rates with artificial corneas, according to the Eye Bank Association of America. When the cornea, the tissue covering the front of the eye, is damaged, loss of vision occurs; therefore, a corneal transplant helps restore sight. If you wish to give someone the gift of sight through an eye donation, you should take certain steps to ensure that your wishes are honored.

Things You'll Need

• Driver's license or identification card
• Completed donor card and family notification card

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Instructions

• 1

  Find your state's donor registry and enroll in it (see Resources for registry links). Most states have donor registries, but if your state does not, you will be able to register with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or a similar agency, according to OrganDonor.gov. It is important to register with either a donor registry or DMV if you wish to donate your organs or tissues because it means that you are legally consenting to the removal and use of your organs or tissues after you die, as stated on New York State's Department of Health website.

• 2

  Indicate that you want to donate your eyes on your state-issued driver's license or identification card. This may be done when you apply for a new license or upon renewal.

• 3

  Print out and complete a family notification card as well as a donor card (see Resources). List your eyes and any other organs or tissues you would like to donate. Distribute the family notification cards to friends and family so they are aware of your decision and keep the donor card in your wallet so that anyone who comes across it will know about your choice.

• 4

  Discuss your decision concerning eye donation with your family members and close friends. At the time of your death, the eye bank will contact your next of kin to get his or her consent for donating your eyes, according to the Eye Bank Association of America. When a potential donor does not inform his family and friends about his decision regarding organ and tissue donation, the deceased's wishes may not get fulfilled if family members do not consent to the donation.