title: [Eye banks and available transplants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eye banks have procured, processed and stored donor corneas for decades. In parallel, new techniques have emerged employing allogeneic transplantation of various cells and tissues from the eye banks. This progress is a consequence of increased knowledge of stem cells, cell kinetics and immunological aspects and improved techniques for cell culturing, tissue storage and microsurgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review article on available transplants for treating eye diseases, based on experience with eye banking, clinical ophthalmological practice, own research and literature retrieved from PubMed, Medline and www.google.com.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment techniques for eye diseases, which require biological material for grafting, need efficient eye banks for continuous supply of donor material of high quality. New Norwegian legislation, based on implementation of EU Directive 2004/23/EC, demands authorization of all eye banks. The EU Directive sets high and rigorous standards for quality and safety for donation, procurement, testing, processing, storage and distribution of tissues and cells. Well-run eye banks are of great importance for modern treatment of patients suffering from eye diseases and for progress and research in ophthalmology.
authors.affiliation: Senter for øyeforskning, Øyeavdelingen, Ullevål universitetssykehus, 0407 Oslo. jon.klokk.slettedal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jon Klokk
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Slettedal
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drolsum
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramstad
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicolaissen
mesh_terms: D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D005125:Eye Banks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005143:Eyelids / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D012590:Sclera / Q000637:transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards