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In the 40 years since it was founded, the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey has helped to restore sight to many thousands of people. Records are no longer available to indicate just how many donors or transplant recipients there were in the earliest years, but the numbers of donated eye tissues or surgical procedures can’t compare to the number of amazing stories – stories of generosity, dedication, teamwork, accomplishment – that make the Eye Bank what it is today.

The first successful cornea transplant was performed in Austria in 1905. It occurred decades before the existence of specialized equipment, tissue storage media and procedures that are now considered indispensable elements in the provision of transplantable eye tissue. And it occurred nearly 40 years before the first eye bank was established in New York in 1944.

The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey (LEBNJ) was established in 1970 by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, a national fraternal organization established to give aid to those in need. At that time, LEBNJ was known as the New Jersey Eye Bank, serving as a sub-station for other eye banks.

The activity at the Eye Bank increased and, in 1973, it relocated to The Eye Institute of New Jersey, which took over its operation.  In 1980, the Eye Bank was renamed as the Eye Bank Foundation of New Jersey, which was supported by a number of organizations including the Lions of New Jersey.  Then, on July 1, 1988, the Lions of New Jersey assumed sole responsibility for the Eye Bank and it became the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey. The New Jersey Lions formally made the Eye Bank a State Sight Project in 1993.

A nonprofit organization that serves all of New Jersey, the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey specializes in the recovery, evaluation, and distribution of donor eye tissue. The mission of the Eye Bank is the restoration of sight.  This is accomplished through corneal transplantation, public and professional education, and eye and vision research. LEBNJ is accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America.

In 1998, Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey relocated with The New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network (The Sharing Network) to  Springfield, New Jersey. The Eye Bank moved to its present location at 77 Brant Avenue, Clark, New Jersey 07066 in 2010. The Sharing Network is the federally designated organ procurement organization for New Jersey. In August, 2005, the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey became a subsidiary of Midwest Eye-Banks.

The Eye Bank moved to its present location at 77 Brant Avenue, Clark, New Jersey 07066 in 2010.

In addition to our important partnership with Lions and Lioness Clubs, the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey has been proud to partner with the Sharing Network and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in promoting eye, organ and tissue donation through the state Donor Registry. Our new I Joined! campaign symbolizes our commitment to the mission we share with each of these organizations.

This is an exciting time to be a part of the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey’s mission, its history, and its future.