“It’s miracle surgery”: new in-house eye donation and transplant service changing lives at UHDB
A Derbyshire woman who has regained her independence and the ability to care for her husband following life-changing corneal transplant surgery is urging others to consider becoming eye donors – as University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) becomes one of just 10 new NHS trusts in England to offer a complete eye donation and transplant service.
Commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to be able to carry out cornea retrievals from organ donors at our hospital sites, this important development means UHDB can now offer both eye donation and transplants on-site, "closing the loop" on the transplant service, with donors making a vitally important contribution to the national cornea bank, ultimately bringing waiting times down for patients across our community who require a transplant.
The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eye that focuses light onto the retina, and when it becomes damaged following injury, infection or due to genetic and degenerative problems, vision can be significantly impaired or lost entirely. Corneal transplantation is a vital procedure in restoring sight for patients affected by these conditions.
Ann's story: "Helping people have a new lease of life is an amazing legacy"
Ann Mallett, 85, from Ashbourne, had been gradually losing her sight due to a degenerative eye condition known as Fuchs dystrophy - impacting her ability to drive and care for her husband, who also lives with sight loss as well as dementia.
After undergoing successful transplant surgeries on each of her eyes at Royal Derby Hospital, Ann says her quality of life has been transformed. Delighted with the results of the procedures, she feels she has "got her life back" and is now able to more easily care for her husband.
She said: “My eyesight was gradually getting worse - like it was clouded by a yellow-y haze. I was worried that this would not only affect my own day-to-day life, but how this would affect the care I provide for my husband.
“I was eventually able to undergo the operation, and it was absolutely amazing: not painful or distressing in any way, and the team were all very kind. Within days, it was a different world - I could see everything.
"You don’t realise how much you’ve been missing until you get it back. I remember looking around the house and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, there are cobwebs up there I’d never seen before!’ It might only sound like a little thing, but this can make such a difference and really puts into perspective how operations like these can transform your life in so many ways."
Ann's daughter, Jo - also based in Ashbourne - explained why it was important for her mother to retain her independence in life, and that the family had worried that she would not be able to keep driving if her eyesight continued to deteriorate, which would have had a major impact on the entire family, and Ann's quality of life.
She explained: "Living in a rural area, it's really important that my mum was able to get around - whether that was getting dad to all his appointments, or doing their shopping. Even at home, this has enabled her to do the things around the house that she was beginning to miss - she told me she went on a cleaning campaign after her first transplant!
"It's miracle surgery. You know that there are people at the other side of it who have sadly lost somebody, but to help people like my mum have a new lease of life is such an amazing legacy."
Ann added that she hoped that families of donors could take comfort in this legacy - benefitting not only her, but also her husband and her entire family.
"I’m so grateful to the families who donated their loved ones’ eyes to help people like me”, she said. "I cannot thank everyone involved enough - and Ms [Lana] Faraj, the surgeon who treated me, is amazing, the whole team are."
"Improving outcomes for patients, and supporting families every step of the way"
Until recently, corneal tissue retrieval was carried out by specialist teams at external centres. At a time where there is a national shortage of corneal tissue, bringing retrieval 'in-house' allows UHDB’s dedicated team of ophthalmologists, mortuary staff, bereavement officers, and NHSBT coordinators to all work together closely. This ensures a smooth, compassionate donation pathway - from referral and family support, to retrieval and contribution to the national cornea bank. In doing so, we can reduce delays between identifying donors and retrieving the cornea, and ensure that donations are more readily available for patients nationwide and across the UHDB community who are awaiting a transplant.
Retrievals must take place within 24 hours of a patient’s death to preserve tissue quality, so timeliness is essential. The service also supports bereaved families by providing sensitive, clear communication and opportunities to understand the donation process, during one of the most challenging times a loved one can go through.
Ms Lana Faraj, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, leads the corneal transplant programme at UHDB. She explained the transformative effects of corneal transplants, saying: “We perform around 80 corneal transplants each year, using a range of techniques tailored to the needs of the patient. Bringing retrieval in-house closes the loop in the corneal transplant service, it will help us provide much needed donation to the cornea bank across the country and bring waiting times down for patients across UHDB and the country so they can access this life-changing operation quicker.
"Having met with our Bereavement teams recently to explain the value of having retrieval at our hospital sites, I found it humbling to hear how sensitively and professionally they support families during such a difficult time. Everyone - donors and their families, NHSBT, the Bereavement team, and my clinical colleagues - all make this service and its life-changing impact possible to the people we serve.
"Organ donation is a humbling and priceless gift given to the receiver, and what is more valuable than giving the gift of sight back to someone? Thanks to the entire team here at UHDB, we can offer a more seamless service - improving outcomes for patients and supporting families every step of the way."
The Trust’s Bereavement team plays a crucial role in identifying potential donors, offering families support and information about donation options. NHSBT Workstream Lead Liz Oldfield works alongside the team to ensure families’ wishes are respected and that donation is carried out with dignity.
She said: "Families are at the heart of this process. We always ensure they have time to ask questions and make an informed decision. Many find comfort knowing their loved one’s donation can restore sight and hope to others.”
The service will help address the national shortage of corneal tissue, which currently leads to long waiting lists for many patients. UHDB’s commitment to raising awareness about eye donation and supporting donor families is a vital step toward increasing donation rates and reducing waiting times.
For Jo, whose optician recently identified early signs of the same condition as her mother, knowing the service is available locally brings reassurance.
“It’s comforting to know there’s a treatment if I need it. Mum’s experience has been life-changing, and we hope more people understand how important eye donation is.”
This Organ Donation Week (22 - 28 September 2025), you can find out more about organ donation and confirm your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register by visiting organdonation.nhs.uk >