MASSENA – Massena Memorial Hospital is encouraging people to visit the National Eye Donor Month display in the main lobby between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, March 7.

There people will find material on organ, tissue, and eye donation, and can enroll in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.

The decision to donate your eyes and tissues after your death may not seem necessary to you right now, but for the thousands of people waiting, your choice can help.

Did you know that one eye donor can help up to six people? This can be possible with two corneas and two scleras. The sclera, the white part of the eye, is used for glaucoma surgery, eyelid repair, and periodontal surgery for gum tissue repair. The scleras can be divided in half. The cornea, the clear tissue covering the pupil, is the most commonly donated eye tissue. Eye tissue can also be used for medical research and training.

Eye donations from 10 people last year at Massena Memorial Hospital have resulted in 22 transplants

• Myth: Cancer, diabetes, blindness, poor vision, glaucoma, eye diseases, cataracts, and prior cataract surgery exclude a person from being an eye donor.

• Fact: Almost anyone can be an eye donor. There are very few reasons why someone would be excluded for eye donation. And, it is one of the simplest, least invasive types of donation.

If you are interested in becoming an eye donor or want more information, call the Central New York Eye and Tissue Bank, 800-393-7487, or visit them online at www.cnyetb.org.