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When Snells Beach resident Evelyn Scott received a letter telling her that her late husband David had helped two people regain their sight, her reaction was one of joy.
David died from cancer earlier this year, but a decision the couple had discussed before his death meant his corneas could be donated for transplant.
“My heart was full of joy when I received the letter from Organ Donation New Zealand saying the donation was successful, and if my husband were here, he would have thought exactly the same,” Evelyn says.
David had originally hoped to donate his body to science. However, Evelyn discovered that this required David to have completed the necessary consent himself before his death.
However, she then learned that eye tissue donation was still possible.
With support from Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ), David’s eye tissue was donated. His corneas have since restored sight to two people, while his sclerae – the white outer layer of the eye – may be used to help others.
For Evelyn, the experience highlighted an option she believes many families simply do not know about.
More than 500 New Zealanders are waiting for a corneal transplant, while only 115 eye tissue donations were recorded last year. Thirty-six per cent of corneas used for transplantation in New Zealand last year came from overseas.
Unlike organ donation, which is possible in fewer than two per cent of deaths, eye tissue donation can be considered for many more people. ODNZ says almost anyone aged between 10 and 85 may be eligible, regardless of where or how they die.
With some pre-planning, donation can take place up to 48 hours after death. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, does not normally delay funeral arrangements and does not alter the person’s appearance.
Evelyn says she has always been comfortable discussing death and donation, but understands many people find the subject difficult.
“At the hospital where my husband was, I asked about donation and they told me no one had ever asked them about it before, so I decided to find out for myself,” she says.
“I think we need to create more awareness so people know they can donate, even if it is just their eyes.”
New Zealand does not have an official organ donor register. People can indicate on their driver licence that they wish to be a donor, but this records their wishes rather than providing consent for donation. Family members are involved in the final decision.
That makes having the conversation beforehand particularly important. A New Zealand study published this year found that while 90 per cent of participants said they would agree to donation on behalf of a loved one, only about 20 per cent had actually discussed donation wishes with their family.
For Evelyn, David’s decision provided something positive from an otherwise difficult time – and gave two strangers a gift that will last well beyond his lifetime.
