So The World Can See: Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research and SightLife are now Lions World Vision Institute

Contact: 
Sharon Boyes
Foundation Executive Director
Sharon.Boyes@LWVI.org
813-289-1200, ext. 714

Art Kurz
Chief Clinical and Marketing Officer
Art.Kurz@LWVI.org
813-289-1200, ext. 721


SO THE WORLD CAN SEE: Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research and SightLife are now Lions World Vision Institute
LWVI is the largest combined eye bank, tissue recovery, preventative care, and ocular research center in the world

TAMPA, FL. (May 5, 2023) – Today, Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research and 
SightLife have come together under a new name: Lions World Vision Institute. Combined, the 
global nonprofit brings over 100 years of resources, experiences, and innovations restoring 
sight to more than 500,000 people worldwide. 

Now as one organization, Lions World Vision Institute offers a broader, worldwide network of 
eye banks, physicians, researchers, and community-based services to exponentially increase 
our impact. Each year, LWVI restores sight for more than 20,000 men, women, and children 
who needlessly suffer from corneal blindness or impaired vision. 

“We are thrilled to officially come together under one shared name, which better reflects our 
global impact and vision for the future,” said Jason Woody, LWVI CEO. “As a global nonprofit 
dedicated to honoring vision as a basic human right, Lions World Vision Institute will continue to 
serve those who are needlessly suffering from corneal blindness in the U.S. and beyond while 
also sharing our expertise honed over decades to help surgeons and their patients worldwide.”
This transition marks the full integration of the two nonprofit eye banks, which came together in 
August 2022 and now serve as the largest eye bank, tissue recovery, preventative care, and 
ocular research center in the world with nearly 300 employees.

“More than ever before, the LWVI team is uniquely positioned to offer powerfully transformative 
sight services to even more people across the globe,” said Doug Pace, LWVI board chair.
“Bringing together two of the world’s leading eye banks will undoubtedly create efficiencies, 
allowing us to provide state-of-the-art services to all those we serve.”
LWVI’s world-class services are grounded in three focus areas:

• Donation and Transplant Services: LWVI is a global leader in transplant facilitation, 
working closely with donor families, hospitals, surgeons and their patients to provide 
hope and healing through cornea and tissue transplantation.

• Research & Innovation: LWVI’s state-of-the-art tissue processing innovations and 
research breakthroughs improve surgical efficiencies and promote cornea transplant 
clinical outcomes. Additionally, LWVI’s cooperative research with third parties will lead to 
significant advances in restoring sight for millions of patients with impaired vision.

• Prevention & Education: LWVI’s nationally recognized community programs are 
creating real social change as the leading authority on pediatric vision health and by 
providing thousands of children free access to eye care every year – protecting their 
right to clear sight.

The newly named organization will be headquartered in Tampa, Florida with satellite offices
throughout Florida, Louisiana, Washington state, California, and Pennsylvania and additional 
tissue recovery services in Montana, Idaho and Wisconsin. 

Lions World Vision Institute recovered ocular tissue from more than 10,000 donors and 
musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissue from 650 donors in 2022, enhancing up to 50,000 
lives through tissue transplantation and restoring sight to over 20,000 people throughout the 
United States and in over 70 countries around the world. Anyone can save and transform lives 
by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor today.

About Lions World Vision Institute:
Lions World Vision Institute is a global nonprofit dedicated to honoring vision as a basic human 
right. Our work reaches around the globe and includes compassionate donation and transplant 
services, innovative research and technologies, vision services and education in local and 
international communities. With our worldwide network of supporters, surgeons, and research 
leaders, we work tirelessly to honor donors’ gifts by protecting and restoring sight for hundreds 
of thousands of people. Together we are transforming lives around the world. Support our lifechanging work so the world can see. Visit our website to see how you can be the difference in 
someone’s sight: www.LWVI.org


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