The Eye Bank Association of Australia and New Zealand: Origins, History, Activity and Future.

Authors

Graeme Alfred Pollock, PhD, MPH

Keywords

eye banks, corneal transplantation, medical standards, advocacy, biologicals regulation

Abstract

The Eye Bank Association of Australia and New Zealand is the peak body for eye donation and eye banking in Australia and New Zealand. It facilitates communication, cooperation, and the sharing of expertise between eye banks. It holds a strong focus on defining and implementing the profession’s best practice, especially in regard to standards of quality and safety. The sound medical and scientific evidence base of the Association and its close ties with the ophthalmic profession have provided a strong foundation and allows it to speak with the confident and representative voice that is necessary to support many of its advisory and advocacy functions. Importantly, the uniqueness of eye banking in relation to other forms of donation has been foremost in the Association’s approach, an approach that is necessary to ensure that national regulatory affairs and organisational models are designed appropriately for eye donation and eye banking as distinct from other forms of donation.

doi:10.7706/ijeb.v1i2.24

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