Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin

What Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin does

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin (LEBW) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) eye bank headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, that recovers, processes, evaluates, and distributes corneal tissue for transplantation. Founded in 1953 in Milwaukee and operating under its current name since a 2000 merger of the Madison and Milwaukee eye banks, LEBW provides 100% of Wisconsin's corneal surgery needs and distributes surplus tissue nationally and to 40+ countries. The organization performs approximately 1,200 donor recoveries annually and places more than 1,800 corneas for transplant, with a 2025 recipient footprint of 800+ Wisconsin residents, 200+ across the U.S., and 700+ internationally.

LEBW's product portfolio includes 13 distinct tissue products spanning processed tissue types (DALK, DMEK, DSEK/DSAEK, Ultra-thin DSAEK, LAK/IEK) and unprocessed tissue types (KLA, K-pro, LKP/Tectonic, PKP, Long-Term Cornea, Sclera), plus specialty allografts BrightMEM and KeraNatural (CAIRS rings/arcs for keratoconus). The organization manages the Cornea Express volunteer transporter network (2,100+ Lions volunteers across 500+ Wisconsin Lions Clubs) that provides statewide tissue logistics, and serves 100+ hospital partners including Mayo Clinic, UW Health, and Ascension. LEBW also operates the Eye Disease Simulator App (2025) for donor awareness and education.

LEBW operates on a cost-recovery basis providing tissue services to surgeons and hospitals, supplemented by charitable contributions through the Cumulative Giving Program (tiers from $500 to $250,000), a charity care fund, and event-based fundraising. The organization is EBAA-accredited, FDA-registered, and holds state/provincial registrations in California, New York, Maryland, and Health Canada, enabling international distribution. Service pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on a quote basis to physicians.

Name

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin

Legal name

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin

Website

https://lebw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) eye bank that recovers, processes, and distributes corneal tissue for transplantation, serving 100% of Wisconsin's corneal surgery needs and patients in 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eye Banking / Corneal Tissue Services

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmic Regeneration (cornea/retina) (HLAAAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Cornea & External Disease Surgical Devices (Keratoplasty Tools, Cross-Linking Systems, Amniotic Membrane Delivery) (HLAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Corneal tissue recovery
• Eye banking services
• Tissue transplantation
• Organ donation services
• Corneal surgery supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eye Banking Services: LEBW provides corneal tissue recovery, processing, and distribution services for transplantation. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, services are provided to defray costs. The organization provides 100% of Wisconsin's corneal surgery needs, with surplus tissue distributed nationally and internationally.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: LEBW receives donations through various programs including the Cumulative Giving Program (Gift of Sight at $500, Knight of Sight at $1,000, Founder of Sight at $2,500, Hope of Sight at $5,000, Angel of Sight at $10,000, Advocate of Sight at $25,000, Ambassador of Sight at $50,000, Innovator of Sight at $100,000, Visionary of Sight at $250,000). Received historic bequest from Ms. Jane Dennis, largest private contribution in its 55-year history.
3. Charity Care Fund: Charity care funds allow LEBW to provide the gift of sight to individuals who do not have means to afford cornea transplant or aftercare. Also supports mission trips and international corneal transplants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) eye bank that recovers, processes, preserves, and distributes human corneal tissue for transplantation. The organization provides 100% of Wisconsin's corneal surgery needs, performs approximately 1,200 donor recoveries annually, and places more than 1,800 corneas for transplant, with surplus tissue distributed nationally and to 40+ countries.

Product overview

Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin is a nonprofit eye bank that provides a comprehensive portfolio of corneal tissue products and transplantation services. The organization offers 13 distinct tissue products spanning two main categories: processed tissue (DALK, DMEK, DSEK/DSAEK/Ultra-thin DSAEK, LAK/IEK) for various transplant techniques, and unprocessed tissue (KLA, K-pro, LKP/Tectonic, PKP, Long-Term Cornea, Sclera) for different surgical needs. Specialty products include BrightMEM (corneal allograft for ocular surface) and KeraNatural (allograft rings for CAIRS procedures). The organization also operates the Eye Disease Simulator App for patient education and awareness, and manages the Cornea Express volunteer transporter network for statewide tissue logistics. The portfolio is unified by LEBW's clinical excellence in tissue recovery, evaluation, and distribution for corneal transplantation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eye Disease Simulator App: A groundbreaking virtual reality tool designed to educate, inspire compassion, and drive action to save and enhance sight. The app simulates various eye diseases including Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy, Keratoconus, Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Astigmatism, and Glaucoma.

Products and services

• Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK)
• Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
• DSEK/DSAEK/Ultra-thin DSAEK
• Laser Assisted Keratoplasty / Intralase Enabled Keratoplasty (LAK/IEK)
• Keratolimbal Allograft (KLA)
• Keratoprosthesis (K-pro)
• Lamellar Keratoplasty Tectonic (LKP)
• Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP)
• Long-Term Cornea
• Sclera (whole & quarter only)
• BrightMEM
• KeraNatural
• Eye Disease Simulator App
• Cornea Express Transporter Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ Wisconsin residents receive sight-restoring corneal transplants annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Lions Foundation (WLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW is a designated affiliate program of Multiple District 27 (MD-27) Wisconsin Lions, supported by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. WLF provided partial funding for both Milwaukee Eye Bank and Madison Eye Bank historically. Lions operate the eye bank to provide local transportation, volunteer time, and advocate for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
• University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW created the Gift of Sight Discovery Fund in 2015 in partnership with UW to promote innovative research to better understand and treat blinding diseases. Researchers are encouraged to apply annually for $50,000 grants. Past recipients include researchers studying glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
• Wisconsin Hospital Partners (100+ facilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW works closely with hospitals and Hospital Donation Committees to provide education, promote donor awareness, and coordinate tissue recovery. Partners include Ascension, Aspirus, Aurora, Bellin, Gundersen, HSHS, Marshfield, Mayo Clinic, ThedaCare, SSM Health, UW Health, and many more.
• Wisconsin Funeral Directors AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW works closely with funeral homes and funeral directors to ensure donor families' wishes are fulfilled. Procedures are non-invasive and should not delay funeral arrangements. LEBW reimburses for some additional prep charges.
• Wisconsin Medical Examiners and CoronersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW collaborates with medical examiners and coroners to enable corneal donation while fulfilling their public service duties. Coordination essential to providing viable tissue for transplant.
• Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and Tissue BankscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW partners with local OPOs and Tissue Banks to fulfill donor and family wishes and provide visually impaired with the gift of sight. LEBW coordinates with designated OPO and Tissue Bank to facilitate donation throughout Wisconsin.
• Donate Life WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW partners with Donate Life Wisconsin, part of Donate Life America network, to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation registration statewide.
• Lions Clubs InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLions Clubs International created an international program to encourage, promote, improve, and establish eye banking internationally so quality eye tissue may be provided to developing countries. LEBW operates under approval of Lions Clubs International.
• Anderson & Shapiro Eye SurgeonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBW partnered with Anderson & Shapiro Eye Surgeons and Wisconsin Lions Foundation for the 2nd Annual Health Fair in April 2024 to provide eye health screenings and donation awareness.
• Triad Cornea CommunityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTriad Cornea Community is the exclusive provider of cornea tissue for vision insurance plans administered by Avesis, a Guardian company.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SightLife: SightLife is a nonprofit eye bank headquartered in Seattle that recovers, processes, and distributes corneal tissue for transplantation nationally and internationally. Directly comparable nonprofit eye bank model, similar tissue product portfolio, and overlapping surgeon customer base.
• Lions Gift of Sight: Lions Gift of Sight is a Minnesota-based nonprofit eye bank affiliated with Minnesota Lions Clubs, recovering and distributing corneal tissue. Directly comparable Lions-affiliated nonprofit eye bank model serving an adjacent Midwest geography with similar volunteer-driven tissue transport.
• Eversight: Eversight (formerly Midwest Eye-Banks) is a nonprofit eye bank network serving multiple states with corneal recovery, processing, and distribution plus global partnerships. Comparable nonprofit operating model, similar multi-state tissue logistics, and overlapping international distribution footprint.
• Iowa Lions Eye Bank: Iowa Lions Eye Bank is a Lions-affiliated nonprofit eye bank recovering and distributing corneal tissue in Iowa. Directly comparable small Lions-affiliated eye bank with similar volunteer-supported tissue logistics and regional scope.
• Saving Sight: Saving Sight is a Kansas City-based nonprofit eye bank providing corneal tissue recovery and distribution across multiple states. Directly comparable nonprofit eye bank model with similar hospital partner network and tissue processing capabilities.
• San Diego Eye Bank: San Diego Eye Bank is a nonprofit eye bank providing corneal tissue recovery, processing, and distribution for transplantation and research. Directly comparable nonprofit eye bank serving a regional geography with similar EBAA-accredited operations.
• Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research: Lions Eye Institute is a Tampa, FL-based nonprofit Lions-affiliated organization providing ocular tissue recovery and transplantation services. Directly comparable Lions-affiliated nonprofit model with similar tissue recovery, processing, and distribution operations.
• Heartland Lions Eye Bank: Heartland Lions Eye Bank is a Missouri-based Lions-affiliated nonprofit eye bank serving the central US. Comparable Lions-affiliated nonprofit eye bank model with similar tissue recovery, processing, and domestic distribution operations.

Others

• Eye Bank Association of America: The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) is the industry accrediting body and trade association for US eye banks, of which LEBW is an accredited member. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but sets the standards governing LEBW's tissue handling and distribution practices.

Emerging players

• CorNeat Vision: CorNeat Vision is an Israeli medical device company developing synthetic cornea alternatives (CorNeat KPro) for corneal blindness. Not a direct competitor to tissue recovery, but represents a potential long-term substitute for donor corneal tissue in the transplantation market LEBW serves.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LionsEyeBankWI
• Facebookfacebook.com/lionseyebankwi/?view_public_for=352438618105562
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lions-eye-bank-of-wisconsin
• Instagraminstagram.com/lebw1
• Xx.com/LionsEyeBankWI

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin