The Eye Bank of Canada is recognizing Ross Memorial Hospital for its dedication and commitment to the eye donor program of Ontario. Today, Linda Sharpen, Manager of the Eye Bank of Canada (Ontario Division), presented RMH President & CEO Brian Payne with a certificate marking the facility's consistent contribution. Over the past five years, 69 donations have been made.

The mission of the Eye Bank of Canada is "to restore vision and improve quality of life through eye donations". It acts as a processing and distribution centre for donated eyes from all health care centres in the province. The Eye Bank provides ocular tissue for surgical use to Ontario health care centres and institutions as well as emergency tissue to any hospital in Canada. Currently wait times for cornea transplants in Ontario vary from several weeks up to three years.

"It's my pleasure to accept this certificate on behalf of all of our hospital staff who are involved in the eye donation program," Brian Payne said. "It's very difficult for nurses to discuss organ donation with families who are distraught over the loss of a loved one. However, it's important to understand that the program not only benefits corneal transplant recipients, but donor families as well. They're comforted, knowing that some good has come from their tragedy."

During her visit to the Ross Memorial Hospital, Linda Sharpen offered three education sessions for staff, focusing on which patients are eligible to donate and how the procedure is done. She also explained the various ways in which the eye donations are used, and how best to explain the issue with donor families.