The Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey was established in 1970 as the New Jersey Eye bank, in conjunction with the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Iniitally funded by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, the Eye Bank joined the Eye Insitute of New Jersey in 1973. In 1975, the institute assumed total funding of the Eye Bank, changing the name to Eye Bank Foundation of New Jersey, and adding Lions to its Board of Directors.

 In 1988, the name changed once again to Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey and, in 2005, the Eye Bank became a subisidary of Midwest Eye Banks.