What Lions Gift of Sight does

Lions Gift of Sight is a nonprofit eye bank founded in 1960 as the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank and rebranded in 2018, operating as part of the University of Minnesota's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences with governance under the Regents of the University of Minnesota. The organization recovers, medically evaluates, and distributes donor corneal and ocular tissue from a Saint Paul facility with 24/7 donor coordination services, serving surgeons and ophthalmologists across Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North Dakota, as well as distributing tissue domestically and internationally. In 2024, Lions Gift of Sight provided 2,322 corneas for transplant and 1,635 eyes for research, making it one of the largest and most innovative eye banks in the United States. It holds EBAA charter membership, FDA registration, ISBT 128 and ICCBBA certifications, and tissue banking licenses in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

The organization's core product portfolio includes processed corneal tissue for PK, DSAEK (including pioneered Nanothin sub-50 micron grafts), DMEK (including MNSert preloaded grafts and patented relaxing hinges), and BrightMEM anterior keratoplasty allografts, plus sclera tissue and ex vivo cultured limbal stem cells. Its technology stack is anchored by Kerify, a cloud-based computer vision software launched in 2024 in partnership with ADCIS that uses DinoLite microscopy hardware to assess 100% of donor endothelium versus less than 1% with traditional specular microscopy, completing evaluation in approximately 30 seconds. Supporting capabilities include histology core services through the University of Minnesota Vision Core Facility, customized tissue processing for researchers, and a research team pursuing patents in frictionless DMEK injector coatings and alamarBlue endothelial viability assays. Patented intellectual property includes limbal stem cell therapy constructs and pending applications for DMEK graft hinges and injector coatings.

Lions Gift of Sight operates a hybrid revenue model combining service fees for tissue processing and distribution (with Lions contributions exceeding $200,000 annually from the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation as supplemental funding), Kerify software licensing through monthly subscriptions (up to 100 or 200 corneas) and pay-per-use pricing for eye bank customers, and grant-funded research services. Customer segments include surgeons and ophthalmologists (primary), academic and industry researchers, hospitals and hospices, funeral directors, and Minnesota Lions clubs, with research partnerships spanning Mayo Clinic, University of Virginia, University of Oklahoma, Doheny Eye Institute, and Institut de la Vision in Paris. The organization is mission-driven and does not have venture capital or equity investors.

Name

Lions Gift of Sight

Legal name

Regents of the University of Minnesota

Website

https://lionsgiftofsight.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lions Gift of Sight is a nonprofit eye bank, part of the University of Minnesota's Department of Ophthalmology, that recovers, evaluates, and distributes donor corneal tissue for transplant, research, and histology services to surgeons, researchers, and eye banks across the U.S. and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eye Banking and Corneal Tissue Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cornea & External Disease Surgical Devices (Keratoplasty Tools, Cross-Linking Systems, Amniotic Membrane Delivery) (HLAHAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ophthalmic Regeneration (cornea/retina) (HLAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Corneal tissue banking
• Eye donation services
• Ophthalmic research tissue
• Histology core services
• Computer vision imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Service Fees: Lions Gift of Sight is supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation through service fees and financial contributions for tissue recovery, processing, and distribution services.
2. Corneal Tissue Processing and Distribution: The organization provides corneas for transplant and research purposes. In 2024, they provided 2,322 corneas for transplant and 1,635 eyes for research. Revenue generated through service fees associated with tissue processing and distribution.
3. Kerify Software Licensing: Kerify cloud-based software sold to eye banks as monthly subscription (up to 100 or 200 corneas) or pay-as-you-go per cornea assessment model. Eye banks purchase their own DinoLite microscope hardware separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Lions Gift of Sight recovers, medically evaluates, and distributes human donor eye tissue (corneas, sclera, and other ocular tissue) to surgeons for corneal transplants and to researchers for ophthalmic studies. The organization processes tissue in multiple forms including whole cornea, Nanothin DSAEK, MNSert preloaded DMEK, relaxing hinges DMEK, BrightMEM anterior keratoplasty grafts, and provides histology core services and customized disease-specific tissue for research. It also sells the proprietary Kerify cloud-based computer vision software to other eye banks for automated donor cornea assessment.

Product overview

Lions Gift of Sight is an eye bank that recovers, medically evaluates, and distributes donor eye tissue for corneal transplants, research, and medical education. The organization offers a portfolio of tissue products centered on corneal transplantation (whole corneas, DSAEK, DMEK, and anterior lamellar transplants) and research services (histology, customized tissue processing, imaging). Its technology product line includes Kerify, a cloud-based computer vision system for automated cornea assessment, along with novel graft products like MNSert preloaded DMEK grafts, BrightMEM anterior keratoplasty allografts, Nanothin DSAEK grafts, and relaxing hinges DMEK grafts. The company also provides histology core services through a partnership with the University of Minnesota Vision Core facility. Lions Gift of Sight was founded in 1960 as the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank and is supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kerify: A cloud-based automated computer vision software system for donor cornea evaluation, launched in 2024, available for purchase by eye banks. Developed in partnership with ADCIS and supported by EBAA investment capital.

Products and services

• Corneal Tissue for Transplantation Human donor corneas for transplant purposes, available in multiple processed forms for different surgical techniques including penetrating keratoplasty (PK), anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), DSAEK, DMEK, and K-Pro procedures. Provided to surgeons and ophthalmologists in Minnesota, across the United States, and internationally.
• Kerify Cloud-based automated computer vision software that visualizes the health of the entire graft area of a donor cornea for endothelial keratoplasty and quantifies processing damage in approximately 30 seconds. Uses DinoLite hardware for imaging and assesses 100% of the endothelium compared to less than 1% with traditional specular microscopy. Sold to eye banks worldwide as a monthly subscription or pay-as-you-go service with hardware purchased separately.
• Histology Core Services Comprehensive histology services for eye researchers worldwide, including specialized whole human globe tissue processing, paraffin and frozen sectioning, standard and special histological stains (H&E, PAS, Oil Red O, Impression Cytology), immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, high-quality digital imaging, assay design, and technical consultation. Partnered with University of Minnesota Vision Core facility.
• MNSert Preloaded DMEK Grafts Preloaded DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) graft prepared by Lions Gift of Sight and preloaded into a Straiko or LEITR modified Jones tube. Simplifies the surgical process for DMEK procedures by eliminating the need for surgeons to load the graft themselves.
• BrightMEM Anterior Keratoplasty Allograft Innovative corneal allograft for anterior keratoplasty, made from decellularized Descemet's membrane. Serves as an optimized substrate for epithelial regrowth and is a long-term solution for patients with impaired ocular healing. Provided through partnership with BrightStar, LLC.
• Ex Vivo Cultured Limbal Stem Cells Cultured limbal stem cell products for research purposes, supporting research into ocular surface repair and limbal stem cell deficiency treatments.
• Control & Disease-Specific Eye Tissue for Research Customized ocular tissues and cells for research, including disease-specific tissue from donors with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Fuchs' dystrophy, diabetic macular edema, and rare genetic ocular diseases. Available tissues include whole globe, posterior globe, cornea, conjunctiva, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, trabecular meshwork, retina, RPE/choroid, and optic disc/nerve.
• Customized Processing and Imaging Services Research tissue processing services including cancer-specific and project-specific donor screening, on-site tissue preservation (RNAlater, formalin), whole eye dissection, retina punches, retinal imaging, and OCT (optical coherence tomography) for cornea morphology assessment.
• Relaxing Hinges DMEK Grafts DMEK grafts prepared with precision cuts (relaxing hinges) to encourage formation of a triple scroll that is wider and easier to open and place during surgery. Lions Gift of Sight was the first eye bank to provide pre-hinged tissue. Developed in partnership with Dr. Mark Hansen.
• alamarBlue Endothelial Viability Assay Fluorescence-based biochemical evaluation method for assessing endothelial cell viability in DMEK grafts. Uses a non-toxic alamarBlue cell viability dye with a perfusion system to measure total biochemical output of viable endothelial cells while grafts remain inside the storage/injector device.
• Sclera Tissue The white outer layer of the eye (sclera) transplanted to assist with glaucoma and other surgeries. Available as whole, half, or quarter globe preparations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,322 corneas provided for transplant and 1,635 eyes for research in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship/core and minor.

• ADCIS (Evolucare Groupe)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Computer Vision company that operates and updates Kerify software in partnership with Lions Gift of Sight. Developed innovative image processing and analysis software for ophthalmology applications.
• Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Provides investment capital for Kerify development. EBAA is the nationally recognized accrediting and standards setting body for eye banks. Lions Gift of Sight is a charter member since EBAA's founding in 1961.
• University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciencesflagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1960Founding partnership established in 1960 to create the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank (now Lions Gift of Sight). Lions Gift of Sight is part of the University's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences. The partnership has yielded the Lions Children's Eye Clinic, Lions Research Building, and Lions Macular Degeneration Center.
• Minnesota Lions Vision Foundationflagship/coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1960Provides fiscal oversight, operating expenses funding, and board of directors for Lions Gift of Sight. The Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds the eye bank's operations and raises donations. They also facilitate used eyeglass recycling in Minnesota.
• LifeSourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrgan and tissue procurement organization that partners with Lions Gift of Sight to provide education for hospital and medical staff on donation types, referral processes, and regulatory compliance.
• BrightStar, LLCcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIndustry sponsor that has joined Lions Gift of Sight to incubate the new limbal stem cell technology. Partnership accelerates widespread availability of limbal stem cell therapy for patients with surface burns, trauma, and cornea diseases.
• Donate Life MinnesotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the Lions Save Lives campaign to increase registered organ, eye and tissue donors. Coordinates donor registration drives and community outreach through Lions Clubs.
• Dr. Mark HansenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal surgical innovator who partnered with Lions Gift of Sight to develop precision cuts (relaxing hinges) for DMEK grafts that improve handling and unscrolling during surgery.
• University of Minnesota Vision Core Facility Histology LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with histology lab at University's Vision Core facility. Heidi Roehrich, MS, manages both the facility and Lions Gift of Sight histology services.
• Minnesota Lions Clubs (600+ clubs)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 600 Lions clubs with more than 20,000 members support eye donation awareness, fundraising, donor registration promotion, and community outreach. Minnesota Lions have supported the eye bank since 1960.
• Dr. Edward Holland - Cincinnati Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Medical Director. Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Cincinnati and Director of Cornea Service at Cincinnati Eye Institute. Keynote speaker at Lions Gift of Sight events.
• Minnesota State PatrolminorOthersFor 42 years (1962-2004), Minnesota State Patrol relayed donated eyes from patrol district to patrol district with lights and sirens until they reached University Hospital in Minneapolis, serving the 86-thousand square mile territory.
• Minneapolis Ambassadors Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClub with strong ties to University of Minnesota. Members come from Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences departments (including Lions Gift of Sight) and Otolaryngology. Participates in service and fundraising activities.
• Eye Banks NationwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners with eye banks across the country to speed up processing and expand access to tissue. Lions Gift of Sight provides innovative services and products to support more efficient corneal transplants nationwide.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Organogenesis: Organogenesis is a leading regenerative medicine company with broad portfolio of wound care and surgical tissue products. While not focused on ophthalmology, they are a comparable incumbent in the regenerative medicine and tissue manufacturing space that LGS may compete with for ocular surface applications.

Direct peers

• Eversight: Eversight is a leading nonprofit eye bank network recovering, processing, and distributing donor eye tissue across multiple U.S. states. They offer overlapping services in corneal transplantation, research tissue, and innovative graft processing, directly competing with LGS for surgeon and hospital partnerships.
• VisionGift: VisionGift is a nonprofit eye bank headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that recovers, processes, and distributes corneal tissue for transplant and research. They are a regional peer with comparable services in innovative graft processing and research tissue distribution.
• Heartland Lions Eye Bank: Heartland Lions Eye Banks is a multi-state Lions-affiliated eye bank network serving Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Nebraska. They share the Lions Club partnership model with LGS and directly compete for cornea transplant and research tissue distribution.
• San Diego Eye Bank: San Diego Eye Bank is a nonprofit eye bank serving Southern California with corneal tissue recovery, processing, and distribution services. They are a comparable peer in tissue processing for PK, DSAEK, and DMEK procedures, and supply research tissue to academic institutions.
• CorneaGen: CorneaGen (formerly SightLife) is the largest eye bank in the United States and a major global provider of corneal tissue for transplant and research. They directly compete with Lions Gift of Sight across cornea processing, distribution, and innovative surgical graft products.
• Advancing Sight Network: Advancing Sight Network (formerly Tissue Banks International) is a global nonprofit eye bank network providing corneal tissue and ophthalmic services. They directly compete with LGS in transplant tissue distribution and research tissue supply, with similar EBAA accreditation and FDA registration.

Emerging players

• BrightStar Therapeutics: BrightStar is LGS's incubation partner for limbal stem cell therapy and provides BrightMEM (Descemet's membrane allograft). They are an emerging cell therapy company working in ocular surface regeneration, with overlapping product development and regulatory pathway.
• Vericel: Vericel is a commercial-stage cell therapy company developing treatments for orthopedic and ophthalmic conditions. They are a comparable emerging player in ocular cell therapy with FDA-approved products, relevant to LGS's limbal stem cell therapy ambitions.

Regional players

• Tissue Testing Technologies: Tissue Testing Technologies provides histopathology and tissue processing services for ophthalmic research and industry. While more niche, they are a comparable service provider in the eye tissue research market where LGS operates its histology core services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lions-gift-of-sight

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lions Gift of Sight