Funding cornea transplants

Restoring sight, Be the Light in Someone’s Darkness

Corneal blindness can often be reversed with a transplant. For many patients, the barrier is cost. We raise the funds that close that gap.

Our mission

We are a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through the gift of sight. Our mission is to raise funds for cornea transplants, offering hope and a brighter future to individuals suffering from corneal blindness.

Why the cornea

A clear window, clouded

The cornea is the clear front surface of the eye. It focuses light before it reaches the lens and retina. When it turns cloudy or misshapen, light can't get through, even if the rest of the eye is healthy.

What causes it

Infection, injury, chemical burns, keratoconus, inherited dystrophies such as Fuchs, and scarring from earlier surgery.

What fixes it

A corneal transplant (keratoplasty) replaces the damaged tissue with clear donor cornea from an eye bank. Some modern techniques replace only the damaged layer.

What stands in the way

Surgery, donor tissue processing, medication and months of follow-up visits add up. Without insurance, that cost puts treatment out of reach.

Before and after a corneal transplant BEFORE · clouded cornea AFTER · clear donor graft keratoplasty
How it works

How a gift becomes sight

Funds go to the care itself. We pay hospitals, surgical centers and eye banks directly, never patients or founders.

  1. 1

    Referral

    An eye doctor refers a patient with corneal blindness.

  2. 2

    Review

    An independent committee confirms medical need and financial eligibility.

  3. 3

    Tissue

    We cover processing fees for donor cornea from an accredited eye bank.

  4. 4

    Surgery

    We fund the transplant at a partner hospital or surgical center.

  5. 5

    Recovery

    We help with drops and follow-up visits so the graft stays clear.

Founders

Started by physicians

The foundation was started by Dr. Abdelrahman Montaser Anter and his wife, Dr. Deena Dahshan.

Dr. Abdelrahman Montaser Anter

Founder · Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Virginia Commonwealth University

A fellowship-trained cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon, Dr. Anter trained in Egypt, at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and at Emory University. While a fellow he spent time at the different eye banks, seeing how donor tissue reaches patients.

Cataract surgeryCorneal transplantsKeratoconusCAIRS

Dr. Deena Dahshan

Co-Founder · American Board–certified ophthalmologist

Dr. Dahshan is an American Board–certified ophthalmologist. She specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology, cataract surgery, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

Board-certified ophthalmologistComprehensive ophthalmologyCataract surgeryMIGSBlepharoplasty
Get involved

Help someone see again

Opening soon

Donate

One gift can cover donor tissue fees, surgery, or a patient's post-operative care. Write to us to be told the day donations open.

Available now

Become an eye donor

Every transplant starts with a donor. Registering takes a minute and is the most direct way to give sight.

Register at registerme.org →

Available now

Partner or refer

Eye doctors, hospitals and eye banks interested in working with us can reach the founders directly.