At the end of 2001, there were 34 eye donations made to the Eye Bank of Canada (Ontario Division) from Ross Memorial Hospital. During the first four months of 2002, a further 14 eye donations from the Ross had been made to the Bank.

"There is a high demand for eye donations," explains Dr. Hudson Giang, Director of Ross Memorial's Lab. "We would like to raise awareness regarding the importance of eye donations and encourage individuals and families to consider the donation of eyes so that others may have their sight restored."

Prior to Ross Memorial, Dr. Giang was involved with a very successful eye donation program at Stratford General Hospital. "When I came to the Ross in 1998, I became actively involved in the program here," says Dr. Giang. "The whole Hospital became more supportive - nurses, doctors, administration - and most importantly families. It is rewarding to know that our involvement in the program with the Eye Bank of Canada provides sight restoration to so many people, including patients in our own community. This is such an important program and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be involved in something this positive and rewarding that I have chosen to donate my fees for each procedure back to the Hospital."

"We have come a long way," says Diane Barkey, Director of Surgical Nursing at Ross Memorial, "however, there is more potential to increase our donation rate. At times, it is very difficult for nurses or physicians to approach bereaved families. Yet, the benefit of corneal transplants is so wonderful and so healing for the bereaved family, that this is something very worthwhile pursuing."

Dr. Giang adds, "Not surprisingly, a significant number of the families that we have approached have kindly and generously donated the organs. The program here at Ross Memorial is still young and there is room for it to grow and for the numbers to increase. Everyone's participation and support has resulted in our success."