About SightLife

Founded in 1969, SightLife is the only non-profit global health organization and eye bank solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit as an eye bank, the organization leverages innovative technologies and best business practices to transform lives and unlock life's possibilities for the corneal blind. SightLife works in partnership with surgeons and health organizations in more than 30 countries and SightLife and its partners combined provided more than 10,000 corneas for transplant in 2011.

SightLife’s primary service regions in the United States are Washington state, Northern Idaho, Montana, California’s San Joaquin Valley, and Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. We meet 100% of the need for transplant tissue in these regions with no waiting list. We also help to fill shortages in other parts of the nation.

SightLife is a member of the Eye Bank Association of America.

History

SightLife is one of the leading eye banks in the world. The Lions Clubs of Washington and Northern Idaho first started our eye bank, then known as the Northwest Lions Eye Bank, in 1969, and we still work closely with those groups in the service of restored sight.

1925 Helen Keller travels to Lions International Convention to ask Lions to serve as “Knights of the Blind.” Lions say, “Yes!”
1969 Regional Lions Clubs band together to establish the Northwest Lions Eye Bank.
2001 The Northwest Lions Eye Bank merges with the Montana Eye Bank.
2006 To better reflect its national and international role, the Board of Trustees of the Northwest Lions Foundation renames Northwest Lions Eye Bank as SightLife.
2009 SightLife begins its service to Northern California, helping even more people to see.