Eversight Illinois Vision Spring 2017 SpringVision_IL_19Apr17_FNL | Page 5

1990s 2005 TODAY
By this time, the Illinois Eye-Bank
averaged more than 1,000 eye
donations a year. Surgeries could
be scheduled in advance, and
the cornea transplant waiting
list was virtually eliminated thanks
to the growing support for
eye donation. Dr. Joel Sugar received the
Founder’s Award, the eye bank’s
highest honor, for his two decades
of dedication and personal
commitment to the mission of the
Illinois Eye-Bank. At the same time,
2,357 eye tissues were donated
for transplant and research—a
stark contrast to the 25 in 1947. Eversight Illinois is a leader in
the eye banking community. Led
by Medical Directors Catherine
Crockett, M.D., Gregory Halperin,
M.D., Joel Sugar, M.D., and
Elmer Tu, M.D., the organization
continues to restore sight for
nearly 3,000 people every year.
1,000+
donations
Eye banks
work
together
20/20s
1985 1996 2015
The Illinois Eye-Bank and the
Michigan Eye-Bank took the bold
step of merging together and
becoming Midwest Eye-Banks.
Together, they provided more
comprehensive and efficient
care to both communities, their
surgeons and patients. The BroMenn-Watson Gailey
Eye-Bank in Bloomington joined
the Illinois Eye-Bank, allowing
the organization to serve both
northern and central Illinois. And
Midwest Eye-Banks was heavily
involved with funding preliminary
research into the causes and cures
of blinding eye diseases. Midwest Eye-Banks changed its
name to Eversight and the Illinois
Eye-Bank became Eversight Illinois,
re-energizing its mission and
inspiring more people to support
the organization’s commitment to
providing the gift of sight now and
into the future.
Spring 2017 | V I S I O N | Page 5