Impact of routine inquiry legislation in Oregon on eye donations.

Routine inquiry legislation can significantly affect procurement of donor eye tissues. Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 97.268 was the first legislation of this type passed in the United States. In the first 12 months under this legislation, the Oregon Lions Eye Bank obtained, 2,312 eyes, sustaining a 135% increase in donor eye procurement over the yearly average for 1984-1985. During the first 12 months of routine inquiry, 484 corneas suitable for penetrating keratoplasty were obtained versus an annual average of 291 corneas for 1984-1985. Tissues for other transplant purposes and for research have similarly become more available. Age of donor tissue appears to be increasing slightly due to the disproportionate increase of donor eyes from the 70-or-over population. The Oregon Donor Program, the public and professional education coalition of the transplant programs in the state of Oregon, has played an invaluable role in making this penalty-free law a success.