Florida Lions Eye Bank March 2023 Newsletter

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2023 | VOL 3

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR OPEN HOUSE

Want to learn more about the Florida Lions Eye Bank and our Beauty of Sight Foundation? Consider attending our Annual Open House, scheduled for Saturday, March 18, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The day will include a presentation in our auditorium, tours of our cornea, pathology, and research labs, and a catered buffet lunch. This event is FREE, but you must be registered to attend.

Location of Open House:

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

900 NW 17^th Street

Miami, FL 33136

RSVP required

Call, text, or email Lion Mara

786-801-8541 ||m.budnetz@miami.edu

Schedule:

Registration: 10:00am – 10:30am

Presentation in Auditorium: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Tours of Laboratories: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Lunch on Retter Patio: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

FLORIDA LIONS EYE BANK ATTENDED

THE MD35 SPRING CONFERENCE

Florida Lions Eye Bank attended the Multiple District 35 Spring Conference on March 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. We were honored to host a breakfast on the morning of March 4. Many of our supporters and board members, including Board President Helene Thompson, showed dedication to our cause by wearing their Florida Lions Eye Bank blue polo shirts.

Executive Director Elizabeth Fout presented about expanding Florida Lions Eye Bank's mission to include Serum Tears production and biomedical research. Gustavo Soriano, our new Director of Development, had the opportunity to introduce himself to the Lions of MD 35 and share some strategies for our upcoming capital campaign. We were happy to share our excitement about our new facility with our longtime supporters.

We also did the twist at the 50s theme night dinner and reflected on the Lions' legacy of service at the Governor's Banquet. We'll attend the Multiple District Convention May 5-7, 2023. We hope to see you there!

Florida Lions Eye Bank & Beauty of Sight Board Members

Elizabeth Fout

Executive Director

Gustavo Soriano

Development Director

Dr. Sander Duvoby

Florida Lions Eye Bank

Medical Director

FLORIDA LIONS EYE BANK

OCULAR PATHOLOGY LABORATORY

Florida Lions Eye Bank Ocular Pathology Laboratory in Bascom Palmer Eye Institute operates solely to study ophthalmic pathology material. The laboratory receives tissue from surgeries performed at Bascom Palmer, other sites in Florida and the Southeast United States, and Central and South America. Over 2000 surgical specimens are processed yearly, including over 250 globes and various conjunctival, corneal, orbital, lid, and intraocular lesions.

DONATE NOW

SERUM TEARS PROGRAM

Serum Tears is an ophthalmic biological therapy that combines the patient’s blood serum with sterile, preservative-free saline.

Unfortunately, most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not typically cover Serum Tears. As such, patients are responsible for the cost of this therapy.

Recognizing this need, 0ur Beauty of Sight foundation launched the Serum Tears Assistance Program, which provides free eye drops for patients in need. To receive free eye drops, patients must complete an application and provide proof of their stated income. Patients are qualified based on the United States Federal Poverty Guidelines and, if approved, receive a 3-month supply of drops free of charge.

DONATE NOW

Please donate today to support our programs, including our Gratis Corneal Tissue, Serum Tears Assistance, and Research programs!

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