CORNEA RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA INC

The Foundation has tracked the progress of thousands of patients, helped pioneer small incision corneal transplants and conducted more than 100 innovative clinical research studies. All of which has led to improved treatment options and the approval of drugs and devices for use in the United States. This effort has given thousands of people back the use of their eyes, putting them back to work and improving their quality of life. Looking forward, there’s still much to do.
• GOAL #1: Drive advances in cornea transplant outcomes
• GOAL #2: Provide new vision restorative treatments to patients through clinical studies in collaboration with partners around the globe

Education has a profound effect on the success of our goals to provide the best vision care through research. Without education to the providers and users in the medical community, research has little impact. Our goal is to empower both doctors and patients with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide and receive the best patient care resulting in optimized outcomes. In the past 25 years, the Foundation has provided intensive training to more than 600 eye surgeons on the latest surgical techniques, and provided thousands of hours of continuing education to optometrists (often the first point of contact for eye care) so they can appropriately identify conditions and provide information to patients to help prevent vision loss.
• GOAL #1: Educate ophthalmologists on the latest advancements
• GOAL #2: Educate optometrists on the latest advancements in eye care

o Action A: Grow the largest cornea transplant database in Western hemisphere
o Action B: Leverage this resource through strategic data analyses to discern and document technique and drug improvements
o Action C: Conduct clinical trials of new treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, corneal problems, and refractive eye conditions to benefit patients, including short-term evaluation studies or multi-year initiatives
o Action D: Partner with companies on innovative new products to treat degenerative conditions of the eye and nervous system through restorative and regenerative technologies.

The Cornea Research Foundation of America (CRFA) was founded by Francis W. Price Jr., M.D. in 1988 with a goal to establish a world center for clinical research and education specializing in corneal disease, corneal transplantation and intraocular lens surgery. A visionary physician, Dr. Price understood that corneal surgeries were increasing, in part, due to complications following cataract surgeries. In response, he created a database to store and track preoperative, surgical and postoperative statistics for transplants performed since 1982 within Price Vision Group.

His efforts were strengthened when the Indiana Lions Eye Bank became involved with the Foundation in 1990. Their contributions and many generous supporters have helped maintain the burgeoning Cornea Transplant Database that now houses data more than 8,000 transplants. Although the Foundation’s primary focus is on transplant data, its mission has evolved to include many other vision research initiatives.

The Board of Directors provide leadership and guidance which assists in defining and maintaining the Foundation’s strategic direction. Board engagement is a critical component to the success of the strategic imperatives through both philanthropic activities and evaluating progress based on the metrics defined in the organization's Strategic Plan.