In Ukraine, the need for donor corneal tissue is both urgent and growing. Years of limited access to care—now compounded by an ongoing war—have left thousands of patients without a path to restored vision. However, thanks to a generous gift, that path is beginning to take shape.
Eversight has received a $150,000 pledge from the Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation to be distributed over three years, to support charitable tissue provision, surgeon education and the development of a sustainable eye banking system in Ukraine. This investment will expand access to sight-restoring care while laying the groundwork for long-term, locally driven solutions.
As of late 2023, an estimated 2,000 patients in Ukraine needed cornea transplants but had no access to care—a number that has likely increased due to war-related injuries and disruptions to the healthcare system. At the same time, a severe shortage of donor corneal tissue and limited training opportunities for surgeons have created additional barriers.
For many patients, traveling abroad for treatment is not feasible. That makes building in-country capacity not just important, but essential.
With support from the Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation, Eversight will provide corneal tissue to Ukrainian surgeons on a regular basis, offered at reduced or no cost for patients in need.
Building on successful pilot shipments in 2025, this effort is expected to provide up to 100 corneal tissues in the first year and up to 200 in the second.
“These transplants represent more than procedures—they are opportunities for individuals to regain independence, return to work and reconnect with their communities,” said Collin Ross, Vice President of Global Development, Eversight.
Through this initiative, Ukrainian ophthalmologists will participate in hands-on training at Eversight’s Ann Arbor headquarters, with clinical instruction from partners at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.
These trainings will cover both basic and advanced transplant techniques, as well as tissue preparation, helping to build sustainable expertise within the country. At least two corneal surgeons are expected to be trained during each year of the program.
This work builds on momentum from a 2025 visit by Ukrainian surgeons—an experience that highlighted both the need and the opportunity to deepen educational partnerships.
While immediate needs are urgent, long-term solutions remain a central focus.
In collaboration with the nonprofit, Eye Care for Ukraine, Eversight is working toward the development of an ethical, sustainable eye banking system within Ukraine.
Planning efforts are already underway, including the establishment of medical standards, and standard operating procedures guiding all aspects of the eye bank’s clinical and donation programs.
This groundwork will enable the launch of a fully operational eye bank—bringing Ukraine closer to self-sufficiency in corneal transplantation.
“If conditions do not allow for the establishment of an eye bank, additional resources will be directed toward providing corneal tissue at a reduced fee or no cost, along with expanded training programs,” Collin said.
This work is made possible through strong collaboration between Eversight, Eye Care for Ukraine and the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center—alongside the generosity of the Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation.
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2002 with a focus on supporting organizations in their local community. Their primary mission is to support established charities that focus on helping people help themselves.
“The work we’re doing in Ukraine is not only important in restoring sight, it also highlights the importance of genuine partnership,” Collin said. “In order to bring vitally needed corneal tissues to Ukraine and to provide training to Ukrainian surgeons, Eversight has worked closely with Eye Care for Ukraine and its dedicated President, Brian True, and also with the University of Michigan.”
“This partnership has really shown how physicians and non-governmental organizations can work together to provide humanitarian relief under very difficult conditions. And, of course, this work would not be possible without the generous support of the Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation, and we are incredibly grateful to them,” he said.
The gift from the Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation represents more than funding—it is a catalyst for lasting change. By addressing immediate needs while investing in long-term infrastructure, this initiative will help bring hope and healing to patients across Ukraine.
As this work continues, each transplant, each trained surgeon and each step toward a local eye bank brings us closer to a future where restored vision is not limited by geography or circumstance, but accessible to all.
Learn more about Eversight’s global vision and give today to help expand access to vision care and build local sustainable eye banking practices around the world.
About Eversight
Eversight is a nonprofit organization with a mission to restore sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of donation, transplantation and research. The Eversight network is responsible for recovering, evaluating and providing human eye tissue for transplantation; supporting research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions; promoting donation awareness through public and professional education; and providing humanitarian aid to people around the world in need of corneal transplantation. Operating in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and South Korea, Eversight works in collaboration with surgeons, researchers, academic medical centers and eye banks across the United States and abroad. For more information, visit eversightvision.org.
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