Cornea Donation Makes Transplantation Possible
Life is enhanced with renewed vision.
By Rae Price - September 25, 2024
Alyssa Tate and her family on vacation.
Vision struggles began at young age
When Alyssa Tate started struggling with her vision at the age of 11, she said her mother initially doubted the complaints since she was at an age when she thought it would be “cool” to wear glasses. But, after repeatedly telling her mom she couldn’t see, they went to the doctor where the journey of eye exams, diagnosis, treatment and eventually corneal transplants began. Alyssa became a “regular” at her eye doctor’s office in Pueblo, Colo, sometimes going to the office several times a week. She was eventually diagnosed with keratoconus, a hereditary and progressive eye disease.
Keratoconus is an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea, resulting in loss of vision. It occurs in approximately one in 2,000 individuals, typically beginning in puberty and progressing into the mid-30s.
Alyssa said her symptoms progressed quickly and when she was approaching high school, the doctors explained, “This is your reality; you’re going to need to have a transplant.’ They told us to start thinking about it.”
Time for a corneal transplant
The most difficult time she said was when she was first diagnosed and trying to figure out if glasses would help, or if she also needed contact lenses. She was prescribed lenses, but as an active kid, involved in sports and other activities, the contacts were sometimes troublesome so she would take them out. “I hated it,” she noted, “I would just suffer and not see as well over wearing the contacts because it was a pain; everywhere I went I was constantly taking out the contact or fixing the lens.”
In high school, she was more comfortable wearing the lenses and was able to see well enough to obtain a driver license.
“Flash forward to 2005,” she said. “I started to have quite a bit of trouble with my contacts and the doctors couldn’t find one that would fit and I developed blisters under the cornea.” By the time she was in high school, at the age of 17, she had her first corneal transplant.
When doctors determined it was time for the transplant, Alyssa said she waited four to five months for the surgery. She remembers clearly the day she received the call that a cornea was available; she was sick and at home from school when the phone call came telling her the surgery would be the next day. Her response, she said, was, “I’m sick. I can’t!” But the surgery was scheduled and as she said, “I had it done, and it all turned out.”
Connecting with donor families
Alyssa met the mother of the girl who donated the cornea used in her right eye. She was attending college in Greeley, Colo. at the time and the donor’s mother lived in Ft. Collins, Colo. After exchanging letters, they agreed to meet, and have since become friends. They are still in touch and exchange holiday cards.
Alyssa also wrote to the donor of the cornea used in her left eye, but the family has not responded. She is OK with that, understanding each family’s circumstances are different and while they decided to help someone else, meeting the recipient might not be the right choice for them.
Thinking about the emotions of the donor family, Alyssa said now that she is a mother it sometimes gives her chills. “I couldn’t imagine losing my daughter or my son and having to make that decision. But by the same token, it has to feel good to her [the mom]. I think she donated other organs as well. I think as a mom it is a little silver lining to a bad situation.”
Ability to see becomes more valued
Unfortunately, in 2009, Alyssa was in a four-wheeling accident and lost her right eye. However, she said the gift of sight she received, if only for a short while, is still special.
“It definitely brings on a new light of taking care of my one eye,” she explained, “Because I think every day how lucky I am that I was given the gift of having a [cornea] transplant and being able to see. I just couldn’t image my life without being able to see.”
Alyssa is a stay-at-home mom and keeps busy on the family’s small hobby farm. The ability to see is cherished for many reasons, “Obviously, I want to watch my kids grow up.” With a husband who works full-time, and two children (ages 9 and 11) who are involved in many school and 4-H activities, she is busy driving them - something that wouldn’t be possible without having the cornea transplant. She noted, the family enjoys many activities together, including fishing, hiking, mountain biking, “I’m an active person, constantly doing something. The kids and I are always on an adventure.”
Of concern now is some deterioration of the gifted cornea, meaning Alyssa may need another cornea transplant surgery. She said on hearing that news she started to panic, thinking about caring for her children. She currently wears a contact lens and glasses, she noted the glasses are primarily to help protect the eye, but she had the doctor put a small prescription in them to force her to wear them.
Alyssa’s current vision requires a visit to the doctor every three to four months to make sure the contact is working and maintaining her sight.
Hereditary concerns
As noted, keratoconus is a hereditary condition, and it also affects Alyssa’s brother. He has not needed a cornea transplant, but has been treated with a procedure known as corneal cross linking.
Alyssa’s husband also has keratoconus but has not experienced serious problems. Because it is in the genes on both sides of her children’s genetic makeup, she said there is concern for their vision. They have regular eye checkups and so far, are doing fine.
Alyssa Tate is a past participant in RMLEB’s Circle of Light Photo Project which features photographs taken by people who had their sight restored through corneal transplants.
Encouraging others to donate
Receiving a donated cornea has definitely been life enhancing, Alyssa said. “Certainly, I could survive without it. There are a lot of blind people who live a very happy life. But it definitely has enhanced my life, without my sight — well, you just miss out on everything.”
When asked how she would encourage others to say “yes” to tissue donation, Alyssa said,
“Think of the family, think of the benefit to that person. Whether it’s life enhancing, life changing, or an extension of your life. I don’t know how to put it into words.
It’s a special gift for me.”
She concluded, “If I can give that gift to somebody else, it doesn’t take anything away, you’re going to be gone. You’re just helping somebody else.”
Go Back Vision struggles began at young age
When Alyssa Tate started struggling with her vision at the age of 11, she said her mother initially doubted the complaints since she was at an age when she thought it would be “cool” to wear glasses. But, after repeatedly telling her mom she couldn’t see, they went to the doctor where the journey of eye exams, diagnosis, treatment and eventually corneal transplants began. Alyssa became a “regular” at her eye doctor’s office in Pueblo, Colo, sometimes going to the office several times a week. She was eventually diagnosed with keratoconus, a hereditary and progressive eye disease.
Keratoconus is an eye disease that affects the structure of the cornea, resulting in loss of vision. It occurs in approximately one in 2,000 individuals, typically beginning in puberty and progressing into the mid-30s.
Alyssa said her symptoms progressed quickly and when she was approaching high school, the doctors explained, “This is your reality; you’re going to need to have a transplant.’ They told us to start thinking about it.”
Time for a corneal transplant
The most difficult time she said was when she was first diagnosed and trying to figure out if glasses would help, or if she also needed contact lenses. She was prescribed lenses, but as an active kid, involved in sports and other activities, the contacts were sometimes troublesome so she would take them out. “I hated it,” she noted, “I would just suffer and not see as well over wearing the contacts because it was a pain; everywhere I went I was constantly taking out the contact or fixing the lens.”
In high school, she was more comfortable wearing the lenses and was able to see well enough to obtain a driver license.
“Flash forward to 2005,” she said. “I started to have quite a bit of trouble with my contacts and the doctors couldn’t find one that would fit and I developed blisters under the cornea.” By the time she was in high school, at the age of 17, she had her first corneal transplant.
When doctors determined it was time for the transplant, Alyssa said she waited four to five months for the surgery. She remembers clearly the day she received the call that a cornea was available; she was sick and at home from school when the phone call came telling her the surgery would be the next day. Her response, she said, was, “I’m sick. I can’t!” But the surgery was scheduled and as she said, “I had it done, and it all turned out.”
Connecting with donor families
Alyssa met the mother of the girl who donated the cornea used in her right eye. She was attending college in Greeley, Colo. at the time and the donor’s mother lived in Ft. Collins, Colo. After exchanging letters, they agreed to meet, and have since become friends. They are still in touch and exchange holiday cards.
Alyssa also wrote to the donor of the cornea used in her left eye, but the family has not responded. She is OK with that, understanding each family’s circumstances are different and while they decided to help someone else, meeting the recipient might not be the right choice for them.
Thinking about the emotions of the donor family, Alyssa said now that she is a mother it sometimes gives her chills. “I couldn’t imagine losing my daughter or my son and having to make that decision. But by the same token, it has to feel good to her [the mom]. I think she donated other organs as well. I think as a mom it is a little silver lining to a bad situation.”
Ability to see becomes more valued
Unfortunately, in 2009, Alyssa was in a four-wheeling accident and lost her right eye. However, she said the gift of sight she received, if only for a short while, is still special.
“It definitely brings on a new light of taking care of my one eye,” she explained, “Because I think every day how lucky I am that I was given the gift of having a [cornea] transplant and being able to see. I just couldn’t image my life without being able to see.”
Alyssa is a stay-at-home mom and keeps busy on the family’s small hobby farm. The ability to see is cherished for many reasons, “Obviously, I want to watch my kids grow up.” With a husband who works full-time, and two children (ages 9 and 11) who are involved in many school and 4-H activities, she is busy driving them - something that wouldn’t be possible without having the cornea transplant. She noted, the family enjoys many activities together, including fishing, hiking, mountain biking, “I’m an active person, constantly doing something. The kids and I are always on an adventure.”
Of concern now is some deterioration of the gifted cornea, meaning Alyssa may need another cornea transplant surgery. She said on hearing that news she started to panic, thinking about caring for her children. She currently wears a contact lens and glasses, she noted the glasses are primarily to help protect the eye, but she had the doctor put a small prescription in them to force her to wear them.
Alyssa’s current vision requires a visit to the doctor every three to four months to make sure the contact is working and maintaining her sight.
Hereditary concerns
As noted, keratoconus is a hereditary condition, and it also affects Alyssa’s brother. He has not needed a cornea transplant, but has been treated with a procedure known as corneal cross linking.
Alyssa’s husband also has keratoconus but has not experienced serious problems. Because it is in the genes on both sides of her children’s genetic makeup, she said there is concern for their vision. They have regular eye checkups and so far, are doing fine.
Alyssa Tate is a past participant in RMLEB’s Circle of Light Photo Project which features photographs taken by people who had their sight restored through corneal transplants.
Encouraging others to donate
Receiving a donated cornea has definitely been life enhancing, Alyssa said. “Certainly, I could survive without it. There are a lot of blind people who live a very happy life. But it definitely has enhanced my life, without my sight — well, you just miss out on everything.”
When asked how she would encourage others to say “yes” to tissue donation, Alyssa said,
“Think of the family, think of the benefit to that person. Whether it’s life enhancing, life changing, or an extension of your life. I don’t know how to put it into words.
It’s a special gift for me.”
She concluded, “If I can give that gift to somebody else, it doesn’t take anything away, you’re going to be gone. You’re just helping somebody else.”