Iowa Lions Eye Bank

10/07/2025

Happy anniversary to the Eye Bank Association of America! Iowa Lions Eye Bank is a proud founding member of the association and our executive director, Esther Baker, serves on its board.

On this day in 1961, the Eye Bank Association of America was formed! Starting with 38 founding eye banks, EBAA membership now stretches into Canada, Puerto Rico, and around the world.

For more than six decades, EBAA has led the way in restoring sight, supporting donor families, and advancing eye banking. The vision remains clear: a world where the gift of sight is always within reach. We are honored to be part of this legacy of hope, healing, and sight. Here’s to 63 years of impact—and to the lives yet to be transformed.

For more on the history of EBAA, see our website.

https://restoresight.org/about-us/history-of-ebaa-and-eye-banking/

10/03/2025

The corn maze at Pinter's Gardens and Pumpkins opens tomorrow and honors eye, organ and tissue donation by featuring the logos of Iowa Lions Eye Bank and Iowa Donor Network. Check it out in Decorah!

09/29/2025

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, we celebrated our 70th anniversary during the Strikes for Sight fundraiser at Colonial Lanes in Iowa City.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, shared their stories, and supported the event. Thanks to their generosity, funds raised will help sustain our vital operations, ensuring that sight-saving work continues for decades to come.

This event was made possible by a dedicated group of sponsors and supporters, including the West Branch Lions, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Yeager Ocular Prosthetics, Riverside Casino, the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Dr. Mark Greiner, George Rickey, Beth Kirkevold, and ImpactLife. Special thanks to members of the University of Iowa chapter of Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) and ILEB staff for helping make this event a success.

09/26/2025

Congratulations to our medical director, Dr. Greiner, for receiving this award!

Congratulations to Dr. Mark Greiner, faculty member in the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology, on receiving the 2025 Outstanding Mentorship in Basic Research Award! Nominated by his mentee, Lauren Berry, second year med student, Dr. Greiner was recognized for his commitment to guiding the next generation of researchers.

In Dr. Greiner’s words: “This award reflects a true team effort… I may be the one in the spotlight, but this honor belongs to our entire research group, including Dr. Jess Skeie, our research scientists Hanna Shevalye and Tim Eggleston, and the decades-long support from our department, the eye bank, and Carver College of Medicine.”

09/23/2025

See below on details of how you can get involved in the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float.

The Rose Dedication Garden offers a meaningful way to honor donors, families, recipients, transplant candidates, and healthcare heroes who makeorgan donation possible. A personalized rose will be placed on the OneLegacy Donate Life Float Rose Dedication Garden, inspiring tens of millions nationwide to save lives.

Take advantage of our Fall Special with 25% off all dedication packages from September 13 to September 22. Join us in honoring these incredible stories and supporting the gift of life.

09/23/2025

Thank you to George Rickey for this lovely opinion piece about cornea donation. And thank you to The Gazette for printing it!

The director of laboratory operations at the Iowa Lions Eye Bank, holds a donated cornea at the Iowa Lions Eye …

09/23/2025

We are thrilled to announce Pinter's Gardens and Pumpkins has partnered with us and Iowa Donor Network on a corn maze to raise awareness of eye, organ and tissue donation! Check it out starting Oct. 4!

👀🌽 A Maze with a Message 🌽👀

We’re honored to reveal our 2025 Corn Maze design! This year, we’ve partnered with the Iowa Lions Eye Bank and the Iowa Donor Network to help share the life-changing message of organ, eye, and tissue donation. 💚

Every twist and turn of the maze is a reminder of the gift of life and sight that donors provide. We’re proud to support such an important cause while bringing families together for fall fun. 🍂

✨ Opening Day: Saturday, October 4th
🕘 Hours: Saturdays 9–5:30 | Sundays 10–4
💵 Admission: $20 per person
🌟 NEW this year: our Low Ropes Course—another adventure waiting for you!

Come walk the maze, learn more about donation, and celebrate the gift of giving. 💚

09/13/2025

Today we are celebrating our 70th anniversary! 🎉

Since 1955, we’ve been dedicated to honoring the gift of eye and cornea donation, helping restore sight, advancing research, and serving all 99 counties of Iowa.

As we look ahead to the future, we invite you to celebrate with us:
✔️ Share your story below of how donation or transplantation has touched your life
✔️ Become an eye, organ and donor by saying “Yes” at your local DMV or online at iowalionseyebank.org
✔️ Make a gift to support our work at iowalionseyebank.org/contribute

Together, we can make the next 70 years even brighter. 💛

09/12/2025

We are so excited for tomorrow's Strikes for Sight fundraiser and 70th anniversary celebration at Colonial Lanes in Iowa City! We would like to thank everyone for all their help in planning the event.

Thank you especially to our sponsors, donors and prize contributors, as well as our participants:

Wolfe Eye Clinic
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
Yeager Ocular Prosthetics
West Branch Iowa Lions Club
University of Iowa Alumni
Junior Miss Clinton County 2025 - Mackie Malli
ImpactLife
Iowa Donor Network
Dan Gable
George Rickey
Dr. Mark Greiner
Beth Kirkevold
Adriana Mendez
Nasreen Syed
Marcus & Morgan Noyes
The staff of Iowa Lions Eye Bank

09/12/2025

If you’ve received a cornea transplant, you know the incredible power of donation firsthand.

At Iowa Lions Eye Bank, we are honored to help make these second chances at sight possible. Your stories remind us every day why our mission matters.

👉 If you’re a transplant recipient, we’d love to hear what the gift of sight has meant in your life. Share your story in the comments or send us a message — your words may inspire the next person to say yes to donation.

09/11/2025

As Iowa Lions Eye Bank celebrates 70 years, our hearts are with the donors and their loved ones who make our work possible. 🫶

For seven decades, their generosity has allowed thousands of people to once again see a child’s smile, or a sunset, or a page in a favorite book. 🌈

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. 🌟

You can help carry this legacy forward — register as an eye, organ and tissue donor today at iowalionseyebank.org and be part of the next 70 years of hope and healing. 💙