Our Mission & History
“To preserve and restore sight, Southern Eye Bank recovers, processes and distributes donor tissue for ocular surgery and research based on need.”
Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Southern Eye Bank, is a 501(c) 3, non-profit eye bank that provides eye tissue for transplant, research and education in Louisiana, the United States and throughout the world in pursuit of its mission to spread the gift of sight.
With the assistance of civic and philanthropic groups in our community such as Louisiana State Elks, Southern Eye Bank was founded on June 7, 1947 and became the third oldest eye bank in the United States. Southern Eye Bank is a fully accredited charter member of the Eye Bank Association of America.
In addition to community service and donor awareness projects, Southern Eye Bank has assisted more than 56,000 people with receiving the Gift of Sight in dedication to our mission.
You can get to know us better by reading the core values that guide us in business.