Eye bank in Valley Stream helps restore patients’ sight

Posted

When Beverly Krouse went to her eye doctor in 2008, she was told she had cataracts and was referred to a specialist in Queens. The specialist then told Krouse, “This looks like it’s more than just cataracts,” and diagnosed her with Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy — a genetic condition that causes the cornea to swell, resulting in reduced vision.

The only treatment for Fuch’s dystrophy is a cornea transplant. In March 2009, Krouse had her left cornea transplanted in Queens, where she got the donated cornea from New England. When she got her right cornea transplanted in 2015, however, the donated cornea came from a more local source: Lions Eye Bank at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream.

“It’s just a great service to provide to the community and restore sight to the people that are blind or going blind,” said Steve Bello, executive director of Long Island Jewish Valley Stream.

The eye bank has been serving Long Islanders with corneal blindness for 30 years, although it was previously in Manhasset. With Long Island Jewish’s new affiliation with Northwell Health, Lions Eye Bank is able to provide any Northwell hospital with donated corneas. Prior to Lions establishment, however, the closest eye bank to Long Island was in Manhattan.

“Eye surgeons on Long Island felt that they needed something out here on Long Island to meet their needs,” said Marsha Wynter, director of the eye bank, who added that the eye bank serves almost 600 people every year.

To get a donor, Live on New York, a nonprofit organ procurement organization, alerts members of the eye bank of an organ donor’s passing. The eye bank then screens the donor for any health issues that may damage the cornea, which limits who may donate their corneas.

“There’s sometimes someone will be very willing to donate their eyes, but there may be many reasons why they may not be suitable donors,” said Bello.

The most difficult part of the process, according to Bello, is when members of the eye bank must meet with members of the donor’s family to confirm that the corneas may be donated, especially if a suitable donor did not previously register to be a donor.

“When you’re asking for the donations, if people do not register ahead of time to be an organ donor, it puts a lot of pressure on the family at the time,” said Bello. “When you’re asking the family at that time to be an organ donor, it’s not always well-received.”

Some families, however, are willing to donate and that is how the eye bank provides those in need with new corneas. “We couldn’t exist without the help of the donor families who are giving these gifts at a very emotional time,” said Wynter.

These donations enabled now 76-year-old Krouse to have the 20/20 vision she now uses every day. “I’m walking around with somebody’s gift,” she said.