With an unwavering commitment to the mission of restoring sight, the two nonprofits – with more than 125 years of service collectively – will begin operating as one organization in January 2026
The new organization will build on the knowledge, success, and expertise of both nonprofits in order to leverage their collective experience to maximize impact for donors, donor families, and recipients
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. & CLEMMONS, N.C.– Advancing Sight Network and Miracles In Sight today jointly announced the merger of the two organizations, which will begin operating as one on January 1, 2026.
Globally, at least 253 million people live with blindness and/or moderate to severe visual impairment, while approximately 90% of the vision loss in the world is preventable or treatable. As separate organizations, Advancing Sight Network (ASN) and Miracles In Sight (MIS) have both made tremendous strides towards a world where vision loss is no longer inevitable.
For more than 56 years, ASN has advanced its mission to restore sight through key milestones such as:
- The launch of the Precision Ocular Biobank, one of the world’s only Certified Ocular Biobanks. Built for speed, it is one of the few eye bank systems globally that can routinely recover ocular samples in under six hours post-mortem.
- The creation of the Cellular Research and Therapeutics Division, which supports the development of advanced cellular models that enable drug discovery and lay the groundwork for transplantable therapies to restore lost eyesight.
- A global impact that includes tissue sent to over 55 countries and nearly 50,000 corneas used for humanitarian and glaucoma surgeries.
“For decades, both of our organizations have been guided by the same calling: restoring sight, offering hope to patients and families, stewarding the gift of donation and equipping healthcare frontliners,” said Alan Blake, executive officer of Advancing Sight Network. “Though our paths began separately, our missions have always pointed in the same direction. Today, we have the opportunity to bring those paths together.”
For more than 75 years, MIS has worked to bring the miracle of sight to people around the world. Some highlights include:
- Pioneering innovation in corneal transplantation through the patented MIS RapidPrep® DMEK system, which streamlines tissue preparation and delivery, reducing surgeon time in the OR and improving outcomes for patients.
- Expanding global access to sight-restoring care through tissue shipments to more than 20 countries, specialized training to strengthen the field of eye banking, and philanthropic programs like the Share the Vision Fund, which has covered corneal transplant costs for patients who otherwise could not afford surgery.
- Building for the future with a new state-of-the-art facility and public museum of eye banking that fosters community engagement, advances education, and honors the legacy of the profession.
“This is a true merger of equals: two partners uniting to expand what’s possible — not just in eye banking, but in holistic vision care and innovation,” said Ingrid Schunder, president & chief executive officer of Miracles In Sight. “We believe that by joining forces, we can accomplish more than either of us could alone. Our combined strengths, from innovative research and clinical initiatives to international reach, position us to be a top-tier leader in eye care in the United States and beyond.”
The new organization will advance its mission through:
- Greater capabilities: Expanding into research, clinical trials, cellular therapeutics, and international programs in order to address all types of vision loss and impairment, in addition to corneal transplants.
- Organizational growth: By joining forces, the organization gains the scale, financial strength, and staff depth to grow in innovation and expand services.
- Sustainability and innovation: With science poised to advance eye care and treatment for blindness far beyond where we are today, progress requires innovation now in order to continue the mission for generations to come.
- Collaboration above all: This merger reflects a belief that eye banks, clinicians, and research institutions can achieve more when working together.
Blake and Schunder continued: “By uniting our expertise, reach, and commitment, we are ensuring that patients, families, and communities will benefit from even greater innovation, continuity of care, and long-term sustainability in the years ahead.”
About Advancing Sight Network
For more than 50 years, Birmingham, Alabama-based Advancing Sight Network (ASN) has enabled sight-restoring transplants, vital eye-tissue research, and surgeon training and development. Through the recovery of nearly 100,000 tissues, Advancing Sight Network is driving innovation beyond transplantation. As the parent organization of the Precision Ocular Biobank and the newly launched Cellular Research & Therapeutics Division, ASN is advancing therapies for diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma in collaboration with leading institutions including the Cleveland Clinic, Yale University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Rooted in compassion and driven by its commitment to restore sight and advance eye care, ASN partners with donor families, hospitals, and surgeons to turn generosity into life-changing sight and drive innovation for generations to come. For more information, visit advancingsight.org.
About Miracles In Sight
For more than 70 years, Miracles In Sight (MIS) has provided high-quality donor tissue for over 3,600 corneal transplants each year, advancing access and outcomes in ophthalmic care. Headquartered in Clemmons, North Carolina, the organization partners with leading surgical centers, drives research and innovation to extend the gift of sight more broadly and equitably, and invests in the future through physician training and programs, including the Duke Global Ophthalmology Fellowship. Through international partnerships and philanthropic initiatives like the Share the Vision Fund, which covers transplant costs for patients unable to afford surgery, MIS continues to expand access to sight-restoring care.
Guided by leadership, collaboration, and innovation, MIS is on a mission to restore vision to more people around the world. For more information, visit miraclesinsight.org.
