IN THIS ISSUE
Investing in People, Partnerships and Progress
Congrats to EBAA 2026 Award Recipients
Congrats to GAEBA’s 2026 Paul Dubord Award Recipient
Key Takeaways from Dr. Price’s Training
Phil Fasone Presents on Morocco Eye Bank Development at WEBS 2026
What Our Member Eye Banks Are Saying
The Insider | Volume 2 Edition 2
Investing in People, Partnerships and Progress
Every advancement in corneal care is made possible through education, collaboration, innovation, and partnership. This quarter, that truth was on full display. From supporting surgeon training to strengthening eye banking programs and expanding access to emerging technologies, our shared commitment with Vision Share Eye Bank Members and the eye banking community continues to translate into meaningful impact for the communities we serve.
As you’ll see throughout this issue of The INSIDER, in addition to our commitment of stewarding the gift that you put your trust in us to place, education and collaboration remain a priority of our work. Whether facilitating hands-on CAIRS training with KeraNatural® wet labs in South Africa and Canada, collaborating with our member eye banks to advance DMEK surgical training, or working alongside global partners to build sustainable eye banking programs, each initiative is an investment in the future of sight restoration.
This quarter also highlighted the power of coming together at professional meetings. ASCRS, WEBS, EBAA, and ARVO offered invaluable opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and explore new approaches that ultimately benefit patients worldwide. We are grateful to everyone who presented, engaged, and helped move the field forward.
The work we do is never the achievement of a single organization. It is attained through partnership, continuous learning, and a shared vision of improving access to sight-restoring procedures for patients everywhere. That vision guides our mission each day: Support global sight restoration. This is made possible by the people you will read about in this month’s edition of The INSIDER.
Congrats to EBAA 2026 Award Recipients
by VS Team
Vision Share is proud to recognize two outstanding professionals from our network who were honored during the Eye Bank Association of America’s (EBAA) 2026 Annual Meeting.
Caroline Miller Receives the Optics Award
We congratulate Eversight’s Senior Brand Strategy and Communications Specialist, Caroline Miller, recipient of the Optics Award. The award recognizes an individual or team from an EBAA member eye bank who demonstrates exceptional creativity and storytelling in advancing EBAA’s mission of restoring sight through eye banking.
Chris Hanna Receives the Heise Award
We also congratulate Chris Hanna, Executive Director of Utah Lions Eye Bank – John A. Moran Eye Center, recipient of the Heise Award, EBAA’s highest honor. Named for one of EBAA’s founders, the Heise Award recognizes an eye banker whose career reflects outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to advancing the profession.
Vision Share is honored to have Eversight and Utah Lions Eye Bank as valued members of our network. Congratulations Caroline and Chris on these well-deserved recognitions and thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to supporting global sight restoration.
Congrats to GAEBA’s 2026 Paul Dubord Award Recipient
by VS Team
Vision Share congratulates Collin Ross, Vice President of Global Development at Eversight, on receiving the 2026 Dr. Paul Dubord Award for International Eye Banking from the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations (GAEBA).
This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to international eye banking while exemplifying the values of Dr. Paul Dubord through leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to expanding access to sight-restoring care around the world.
Collin’s decades of dedication to advancing global eye banking, building sustainable international partnerships, and improving access to corneal transplantation have made a lasting impact on patients and professionals worldwide. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. Learn more about GAEBA here.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Price’s Training
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Price DMEK Course hosted by Dr. Francis Price and the VisionFirst team. It was an incredibly valuable experience that expanded my understanding of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) while providing the opportunity to connect with professionals involved in every stage of corneal transplantation. I also toured VisionFirst and gained greater insight into its facilities and operations. During the course, I had the opportunity to share the work Vision Share does in tissue distribution and discuss how our role supports surgeons and patients throughout the transplant process. It was equally valuable to hear directly from corneal surgeons and better understand their perspectives, techniques and experiences in the operating room.
One of the highlights of the course was participating in the wet lab, where I practiced DMEK tissue processing and loading techniques. This hands-on experience gave me an even greater appreciation for the precision, skill, and care required when handling donor ocular tissue. I also observed postoperative patient follow-up visits, which served as an important reminder of the life-changing impact corneal transplantation has on restoring vision.
Another memorable experience was observing live DMEK surgeries. Watching these procedures in real time provided valuable insight into the surgical techniques, clinical decision-making, and teamwork required to achieve successful outcomes. Seeing firsthand how donor tissue is prepared, handled and transplanted, connected our work in tissue distribution to the patient’s journey and reinforced the important role we play in global sight restoration.
I returned from the course with new knowledge, practical experience and a deeper appreciation for DMEK transplantation from both the eye bank and surgical perspectives. Experiences like these deepen our understanding of the needs of the surgeons we serve and ultimately help Vision Share continue supporting the global eye banking community through education, collaboration and exceptional service.
KeraNatural® Around the World
by VS Team
One of Vision Share’s core commitments is facilitating surgeon education to support global sight restoration. During Q2 2026, we were proud to support KeraNatural® wet labs in South Africa and Canada, providing ophthalmologists with valuable opportunities for hands-on training and knowledge sharing. These educational events help equip surgeons with the skills and confidence needed to expand treatment options for patients worldwide.
KeraNatural® Wet Lab at Canadian Ophthalmology Society Annual Meeting and Exhibition
Montreal, Canada
Vision Share was proud to support a recent hands-on wet lab in Canada focused on advancing surgeon education in corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment procedures. The course provided corneal specialists with practical training in the preparation and implantation of CAIRS, KeraNatural® and CTAK techniques for the treatment of keratoconus and other corneal ectatic disorders.
Participants rotated through interactive wet-lab stations, gaining experience with manual and assisted channel creation, segment customization, and implantation techniques. The program also featured case-based discussions that emphasized individualized treatment planning, nomogram-guided surgical decision-making, and strategies for optimizing patient outcomes.
Expanding What’s Possible in Corneal Care
Cape Town, South Africa
In April 2026, Vision Share joined leading ophthalmologists from around the world at the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa Congress 2026, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. In partnership with National Medical Supplies, Vision Share hosted a hands-on CAIRS wet lab led by Tony Dang, highlighting the use of KeraNatural® in keratoconus treatment.
More than 30 surgeons participated in the KeraNatural® wet lab, with attendance exceeding expectations, demonstrating the growing demand for practical, skill-based training in emerging corneal techniques. Rather than a passive learning environment, the session focused on active surgical application. Read more
Phil Fasone Presents on Morocco Eye Bank Development at WEBS 2026
by VS Team
Vision Share was honored to share its Morocco Eye Bank Development initiative at the 2026 World Eye Bank Symposium (WEBS), where our Executive Director, Phil Fasone, presented the collaborative project and its efforts to establish sustainable eye banking capacity in Morocco.
This initiative is being carried out in partnership with Eversight, with Dr. Heather Nuskind, Eversight’s Director of Global Development and Surgical Innovations, playing a key role in designing and implementing the training program.
The presentation highlighted the partnership between Vision Share, Eversight, Dr. Belmekki of Cheikh Zaid University Hospital in Rabat, and the Sheikh Zaid Ibn Soltan Foundation to develop a sustainable eye banking program in Morocco. The project began in response to Dr. Belmekki’s vision of expanding access to corneal transplantation for Moroccan patients. Vision Share helped communicate the country’s need for a local eye bank to the Ministry of Health and assisted in securing financial support from the Sheikh Zaid Ibn Soltan Foundation.
With funding in place, Vision Share partnered with Eversight, an EBAA-accredited eye bank and Vision Share member to develop a customized implementation and training program. The initiative includes facility planning, equipment sourcing, staffing, surgeon and technician training, education, and the implementation of operational and quality standards, all tailored to Morocco’s cultural, clinical, and operational needs.
By helping countries develop sustainable local eye banking programs, the Vision Share network is expanding access to sight-restoring care worldwide. The Morocco Eye Bank Development project demonstrates the power of international collaboration and provides a scalable model for strengthening eye banking in other regions.
What Our Member Eye Banks Are Saying
by VS Team
“Partnering with Vision Share aligns perfectly with Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin’s commitment to cherishing the extraordinary generosity of corneal donors while bridging gaps in access to sight-saving transplants. This alliance empowers us to combat tissue shortages in vulnerable regions, ensuring that the gift of sight reaches every corner where it’s needed most, fostering brighter futures for all.”
Stacey Troha, Chief Executive Officer,
Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin
ARVO Recap
by Brian Keenan
Vision Share was proud to exhibit at the ARVO annual meeting held in Denver in early May. This conference of vision researchers provided a great opportunity to engage with the research community and introduce them to the eye banking network. Throughout the conference, the Vision Share team met with both existing research partners and prospective clients to discuss current tissue needs. Conversations highlighted a demand for ocular tissue to support research, especially in AMD and a wide range of retinal diseases. These areas represented the most common inquiries for tissue requests from eye banks.
ARVO also provided opportunities for Vision Share to meet with member eye bank teams. These interactions focused on how eye banks can continue to support the needs of the research community. Another conference highlight was attending the poster presentation by Onkar Sawant, PhD, Vice President of Research & Development, Eversight about their KLAL-Pro; a novel, partialthickness, limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs)-rich graft prepared by the eye bank for treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). This novel graft can improve access and efficiency of the surgical treatment of LSCD. Read the ARVO poster abstract here.
Vision Share appreciates the opportunity to participate in ARVO each year and connect with the research community. If you would like more information about our conversations with researchers, please contact me at bkeenan@visionshare.org.
Build Brand Momentum
by Melanie Howell
During Q2 2026, Vision Share continued to build momentum through strategic marketing initiatives, strengthened industry relationships, and investments in the resources that support our members, partners, and the eye banking community.
Behind the scenes, we expanded our digital presence with the launch of a new Partnership page and Fundraising page on the Vision Share website, providing valuable resources for prospective partners and supporters while strengthening our organizational outreach.
We also continued enhancing our internal CRM systems and workflows to improve communication, operational efficiency, and long-term relationship management. I also attended my first EBAA Annual Meeting, where I had the opportunity to build new relationships and connect with eye banking professionals from across the country.
A visit to the VisionFirst Eye Bank while in Indiana for the EBAA conference also provided valuable insight into their operations and strengthened my understanding of the eye banking process from tissue recovery through transplantation. While many of these efforts take place behind the scenes, each one helps strengthen Vision Share’s relationships, expand our reach, and ultimately support global sight restoration.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
by Tony Dang
At Vision Share, we’re continually investing in technology that helps eye banks work more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and responsibly steward the gift of donated tissue.
Over the past several months, our team has been working behind the scenes to develop new enhancements to the Vision Share Real-Time Portal and Access Plus with a focus on improving the overall user experience and simplifying day-to-day workflows. These updates were made in response to feedback from our eye bank partners and reflect our ongoing commitment to providing innovative tools that support both member and participating eye banks.
Recent Enhancements Include:
- An updated Vision Share Real-Time Portal featuring a redesigned login page and landing page for a cleaner, more intuitive experience.
- New OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology that allows users to upload tissue information more quickly by automatically capturing data from uploaded documents.
- Reporting is now available directly within Midwire, making it easier to access important information without switching between systems.
- Continued improvements to Access Plus , helping users efficiently source tissue that meets their preferred criteria.
- Ongoing investments in workflow automation, communication, and visibility throughout the tissue placement process.
- In addition to these new features, the Vision Share Real-Time Portal continues to provide the tools our partners rely on every day, including real-time surgery listings, customized reimbursement calculations, Access Plus tissue sourcing, a three-week international placement calendar, live message boards, and automatic dashboard updates to keep information current.
- These enhancements represent just one part of Vision Share’s ongoing commitment to innovation. By continually refining our technology and listening to feedback from the eye banking community, we aim to simplify processes, strengthen collaboration, and support more efficient tissue placement across our network.
Discover how Vision Share can support your eye bank
The Vision Share Real-Time Portal and Access Plus are designed to help eye banks streamline tissue sourcing, improve communication, and maximize tissue placement opportunities. You don’t have to be a Vision Share member to partner with us. Learn more about partnering with Vision Share at visionshare.org/partner.
An Update From Our Member Eye Banks
Saving Sight
At Saving Sight, the mission to change lives by saving sight is also a commitment to rethinking what an eye bank can do. Beyond recovering and placing corneal tissue with surgeons for transplant, Saving Sight is building services that extend the reach of every gift.
Through Vital Tears, Saving Sight is a national leader in autologous serum eye drops, therapy made from a patient’s own blood and delivered in as little as 48 hours, offering relief to patients whose needs aren’t met by conventional treatments.
Through First Gift, a division of Saving Sight, families donate placental and umbilical cord tissue used in ocular treatments and to heal wounds and burns. A single donation can help up to 75 people.
Underpinning it all is a team that stewards every gift with care – supporting donor families, partnering with surgeons and hospitals, and advancing the research that moves the field forward. Together, these efforts help more patients restore sight and reclaim their quality of life.
Read more: https://visionshare.org/member-list-info/saving-sight-eye-bank/
Utah Lions Eye Bank
For more than five decades, Utah Lions Eye Bank – John A. Moran Eye Center has been dedicated to restoring sight, advancing research, and supporting the gift of donation throughout Utah and the surrounding region. As a nonprofit organization, the Eye Bank works closely with donor families, healthcare professionals, and community partners to ensure that every gift has the opportunity to improve lives.
This year, Utah Lions Eye Bank – John A. Moran Eye Center’s Executive Director, Chris Hanna received the prestigious Heise Award at the 2026 Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) Annual Meeting. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and service to the eye banking profession and reflects Chris’s longstanding commitment to advancing eye donation, transplantation, and patient care.
Under Chris’s leadership, Utah Lions Eye Bank – John A. Moran Eye Center has continued to strengthen community awareness around eye donation while supporting surgeons and patients through the recovery and distribution of corneal tissue. Their efforts help restore sight, provide hope to recipients, and further the mission of improving lives through donation.
Recent media coverage has highlighted the powerful impact of the Eye Bank’s work, sharing stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed through corneal transplantation and encouraging more people to register as donors.
Read more: https://visionshare.org/member-list-info/utah-lions-eye-bank/
