Eye Bank Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Ownership (Hospitals, Non-Profit Organizations, Private Organizations), By Structure (Eye Bank Only Functions, Tissue and Eye Bank Functions, Recovery Centers, Processing Centers, Distribution Centers, Multicenter Eye Banks), By Region and Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Eye Bank Market, valued at USD 1.54 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 7.98% to reach USD 2.44 Billion by 2030. The Global Eye Bank Market encompasses organizations dedicated to the recovery, processing, and distribution of donor corneal tissue for transplantation, research, and medical education. This market's expansion is fundamentally supported by the increasing global prevalence of corneal diseases, such as dystrophies and keratoconus, alongside a rising incidence of ocular injuries. Furthermore, ongoing advancements in surgical techniques for corneal transplantation consistently stimulate the demand for high-quality donor tissue. According to the Eye Bank Association of America, in 2024, U. S. eye banks facilitated 51,559 domestic keratoplasty procedures, representing a 1.2% increase from 50,925 procedures in 2023.

Despite these drivers, a significant impediment to market growth is the persistent worldwide shortage of donor corneas. This scarcity is compounded by logistical complexities inherent in tissue procurement and distribution, particularly within regions possessing underdeveloped infrastructure, and the continuous challenge of uniformly upholding rigorous quality assurance standards across varied operational environments.

Key Market Drivers

The increasing global prevalence of corneal disorders and ocular injuries significantly drives the Global Eye Bank Market. Conditions like keratoconus, Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, and infectious keratitis contribute substantially to corneal blindness and severe visual impairment worldwide. A rising incidence of trauma-related ocular injuries, often from industrial accidents, sports, and road incidents, also necessitates urgent corneal grafting. These factors expand the global population requiring transplantation for sight restoration or pain alleviation. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), in its 'IAPB Vision Atlas' published in October 2023, corneal opacities caused blindness and moderate-to-severe vision impairment in 4.9 million people globally, underscoring the demand for donor corneas.

Concurrently, advancements in corneal transplant surgical techniques profoundly influence the market by enhancing procedural efficacy and broadening treatable conditions. Modern lamellar procedures such as Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) offer improved visual outcomes, faster patient rehabilitation, and reduced immunological rejection versus conventional penetrating keratoplasty. These precise techniques expanded transplantation's applicability to more patients and pathologies. According to the European Eye Bank Association (EEBA) 2023 Annual Report, published in May 2024, lamellar keratoplasty procedures constituted 68% of all corneal transplants performed by member eye banks in 2022, an increase from 62% in 2021, indicating a shift. This evolution in surgical practice actively fuels demand for prepared and screened corneal tissue. The global eye banking sector, as reported by the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations (GAEBA) in its 2023 Activity Report released in November 2023, recovered over 200,000 corneas worldwide in 2022, reflecting the market's scale and critical role.

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Key Market Challenges

The persistent worldwide shortage of donor corneas represents a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Eye Bank Market. This scarcity directly limits the available supply of corneal tissue essential for transplantation procedures, critical ophthalmic research, and medical education globally. As a result, the market cannot fully capitalize on the increasing global prevalence of corneal diseases, such as dystrophies and keratoconus, or the rising incidence of ocular injuries. While advancements in surgical techniques for corneal transplantation consistently stimulate demand, the insufficient supply of high-quality donor tissue restricts the volume of procedures that can be performed.

This challenge is clearly reflected in distribution trends. According to the Eye Bank Association of America, total international exports of corneal tissue decreased by 1.7% from 27,187 in 2023 to 26,732 in 2024. This reduction in international supply from a major contributing region indicates how limited donor availability restricts the market's ability to meet the global need for vision-restoring procedures. The inability to adequately fulfill this demand directly hampers market expansion and limits patient access to sight-saving interventions.

Key Market Trends

The Global Eye Bank Market is significantly influenced by enhanced tissue preservation techniques, which directly impact the viability and effective supply of donor corneas. Advancements in preservation solutions and storage protocols allow for extended tissue shelf life, increasing the window for transportation and successful transplantation, especially to regions with logistical challenges. According to the Eye Bank Association of America’s 2024 Statistical Report, corneas distributed in long-term storage solutions increased by 33.9% in 2024 compared to 2023, reflecting the growing impact of these methods. Continued innovation, such as the incorporation of antioxidants into preservation solutions, aims to further extend shelf life and maintain cornea quality during storage, as noted by Vision Share in January 2025. This trend mitigates donor scarcity by maximizing the utility of recovered tissue.

Concurrently, innovations in donor tissue screening and evaluation are vital for ensuring transplant safety and optimizing tissue utilization. Rigorous screening for communicable diseases and precise assessment of corneal health, including endothelial cell density, reduce the risk of graft failure and infection. The Eye Bank Association of America’s 2024 Statistical Report details reasons tissue was not released for transplant, including issues identified through serologic testing, underscoring the continuous importance of thorough screening in maintaining safety standards. This comprehensive evaluation process, however, can also lead to discard rates, particularly with expanding donor pools. A study published in IOVS in 2024 found that corneas from donors aged 76-80 years had a 48% surgeon rejection rate, which was a 10% increase compared to those from donors aged 71-75 years, highlighting the critical role of refined evaluation criteria in determining tissue suitability.

Segmental Insights

The Non-Profit Organizations segment is rapidly growing in the Global Eye Bank Market due to its fundamental mission to prioritize public health and maximize tissue availability. These organizations often benefit from governmental grants, philanthropic contributions, and extensive community outreach, enabling them to expand service provision without being driven by profit motives. Their operations are characterized by a strong adherence to ethical guidelines and stringent regulatory frameworks established by bodies such as the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), which sets medical standards and accredits eye banks. This commitment fosters trust among donors and healthcare providers, ensuring the highest quality of donated ocular tissue for transplantation, research, and education globally.

Regional Insights

North America holds a leading position in the Global Eye Bank Market, driven by its well-established healthcare infrastructure and robust regulatory framework. The region benefits from organizations like the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), which sets stringent medical standards and accreditation processes, ensuring high-quality tissue for transplantation. This advanced infrastructure, coupled with widespread adoption of eye banking practices and a culture that supports eye donation, fosters significant research and technological advancements in corneal transplantation. Furthermore, effective collaboration among eye banks, hospitals, and research institutions contributes to a consistent supply of donor corneas and superior patient outcomes.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Vision Share, a prominent non-profit organization that represents leading U.S. eye banks and serves as a crucial supplier of corneal tissue for transplantation and research, officially joined the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations (GAEBA). This strategic collaboration is poised to strengthen worldwide efforts in eye banking. Such international partnerships are fundamental for establishing global standards, sharing best practices, and collectively improving the accessibility and quality of eye banking services across the globe, enhancing support for corneal transplantation.

• In June 2024, Eversight and Emmecell initiated a significant collaboration within the Global Eye Bank Market, focusing on a Phase 1 clinical trial. This partnership involves a minimally invasive treatment designed to inject healthy donor corneal endothelial cells into the eye. The objective is to repopulate a patient's diseased cornea with functioning endothelial cells, thereby potentially eliminating the necessity for conventional corneal transplantation. Safety data from treated subjects were presented, underscoring the ongoing breakthrough research aimed at revolutionizing corneal care and reducing dependence on whole donor corneas for transplantation.

• In June 2024, Cellusion achieved a notable milestone by receiving Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for its investigational regenerative compound, CLS001. This compound is specifically developed for treating bullous keratopathy, a condition affecting the cornea. This designation accelerates the development pathway for CLS001, signifying a breakthrough in research for corneal diseases within the Global Eye Bank Market. The potential success of such regenerative therapies could provide an alternative to traditional corneal transplants, impacting the demand and utilization of donor corneal tissue globally.

• In Winter 2024, Aurion Biotech made substantial progress with AURN001, its cell therapy for corneal edema arising from endothelial disease. This innovative therapy, which utilizes expanded human allogeneic endothelial cells, secured regulatory approval in Japan. Concurrently, the company successfully completed patient enrollment for its pivotal Phase 1/2 clinical trial across the United States and Canada. This advancement represents a significant new product introduction and breakthrough research in the Global Eye Bank Market, offering a promising solution to restore vision and potentially reduce the volume of full corneal transplants.

Key Market Players

• Central Eye Bank of Iran (CEBI)
• Ramayamma International Eye Bank
• Illinois Eye Bank
• SightLife
• Eye Bank of Ethiopia
• National Eye Bank(All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
• Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)
• Advancing Sight Network
• Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank (BRREB)
• Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Eye Bank Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Eye Bank Market, By Ownership:

o   Hospitals

o   Non-Profit Organizations

o   Private Organizations

• Eye Bank Market, By Structure:

o   Eye Bank Only Function

o   Tissue and Eye Bank Functions

o   Recovery Centers

o   Processing Centers

o   Distribution Centers

o   Multicenter Eye Bank

• Eye Bank Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Eye Bank Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Eye Bank Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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