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Rostock Corneal Bank: Life-saving donations for sighted people in need!
The Rostock Corneal Bank recorded 580 donations in 2025, supporting patients with corneal transplants for better vision.
Rostock Corneal Bank: Life-saving donations for sighted people in need!
A positive trend is emerging in the area of tissue donation. In 2025, more tissue donations were recorded across Germany than ever before NDR reported. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania particularly stands out, where the Rostock corneal bank registered an impressive 580 donations. This corresponds to a total of 1,160 donor eyes, giving many patients hope for improved vision.
Operations take place almost every day at the Rostock University Eye Clinic, the only facility in northern Germany that specializes in corneal transplants. For many patients who have lost their vision due to herpes infections or incorrect use of contact lenses, a transplant can be life-changing. You have the opportunity to regain up to 100 percent of your vision - there's something there!
The path to corneal transplantation
Corneal donation is a routine medical procedure that is usually performed within 30 minutes. In Germany, around 9,000 corneas are transplanted every year, while the cut for kidney transplants is significantly lower - there it is just 2,000 per year organspende-info.de.
The corneas are only taken from postmortem donations and are usually well tolerated by the recipient. Since rejection reactions only rarely occur, immunosuppressants are usually not necessary. The removal is done either by harvesting the entire eye or by removing a piece of the cornea about the size of a 2 cent coin.
Donor and recipient – a relationship that counts
Finding suitable donor corneas can be a challenge, especially for young patients. The donor should not be more than 20 years older than the recipient. However, about half of patients waiting for a transplant do not receive one. According to experts, this could be due, among other things, to a lack of knowledge about tissue donation. There is a box in the organ donation cards for consent to tissue donation and it is recommended that relatives be informed of one's wishes.
The organization of the cornea donation is carried out in close cooperation with the undertakers, and relatives generally do not have to expect any additional effort or delays. After collection, the corneas are transported to a cornea bank where they are assessed and prepared for transplantation. The bereaved have the opportunity to be informed anonymously about the progress of the transplant, which can provide comfort to many.
The increased willingness to donate tissue is encouraging, but the need for corneas remains high. Despite progress in recent years, many patients continue to wait for a suitable transplant. Improving the quality of life through corneal transplants remains an important concern in society, as well wovennetwork.de emphasized. It is important to continue to educate people and raise people's awareness of this important topic.