Around the globe, corneal defects are a major cause of severe visual impairment or blindness. By developing a technique to successfully transplant the cornea (keratoplasty), Eduard Zirm made an important contribution to ophthalmology. Today, keratoplasty is considered routine surgery. In many countries, however, due to the lack of donor corneas, there is still no help for many patients. Lions Clubs International support the availability of donor corneas through the setup and maintenance of Lions Eye Banks worldwide.