Corneal blindness is a major cause of avoidable visual impairment in India, especially among children. At Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru, 39 children underwent keratoplasty last year, while 54 more are still waiting for the gift of sight. Across India, more than a million people are waiting for a corneal transplant.
This gap persists due to lack of awareness, logistical challenges, myths surrounding eye donation, and communication and timing challenges during a period of grief. Even when eye banks and trained retrieval centres are accessible, lack of awareness about the donation process can be a major deterrent.
National Eye Donation Fortnight (August 25–September 8) raises awareness and encourages people to pledge and their eyes and support eye donation. However, the gap between pledges and actual donations remains significant because eye retrieval should ideally take place within 4–6 hours of death. Families should promptly contact the nearest eye bank and, until trained personnel arrive, gently close the eyes, keep them moist with cotton pads or damp cloth, switch off fans, preferably use air conditioning, and keep the head elevated by 4–6 inches.
“The procedure takes about 20–30 minutes. Only the cornea is removed, causing no facial disfigurement,” says Prof. Dr. Rohit Shetty, Director, Narayana Nethralaya. He adds that almost anyone above one year of age—including those with diabetes, hypertension, glasses, previous cataract surgery, or retinal or optic nerve diseases—can donate their eyes.
The Shankar Anand Singh Eye Bank at Bommasandra, under the Narayana Nethralaya Eye Foundation, has an international-standard tissue-banking facility supporting corneal transplantation and related eyecare.
To pledge your eyes or report a death, call 9620785050.
One donated eye can potentially help restore sight in up to 4 people, while tissue unsuitable for transplantation may be used for medical research.
Pledge your eyes. Give the gift of sight. Transform lives.
This gap persists due to lack of awareness, logistical challenges, myths surrounding eye donation, and communication and timing challenges during a period of grief. Even when eye banks and trained retrieval centres are accessible, lack of awareness about the donation process can be a major deterrent.
National Eye Donation Fortnight (August 25–September 8) raises awareness and encourages people to pledge and their eyes and support eye donation. However, the gap between pledges and actual donations remains significant because eye retrieval should ideally take place within 4–6 hours of death. Families should promptly contact the nearest eye bank and, until trained personnel arrive, gently close the eyes, keep them moist with cotton pads or damp cloth, switch off fans, preferably use air conditioning, and keep the head elevated by 4–6 inches.
“The procedure takes about 20–30 minutes. Only the cornea is removed, causing no facial disfigurement,” says Prof. Dr. Rohit Shetty, Director, Narayana Nethralaya. He adds that almost anyone above one year of age—including those with diabetes, hypertension, glasses, previous cataract surgery, or retinal or optic nerve diseases—can donate their eyes.
The Shankar Anand Singh Eye Bank at Bommasandra, under the Narayana Nethralaya Eye Foundation, has an international-standard tissue-banking facility supporting corneal transplantation and related eyecare.
To pledge your eyes or report a death, call 9620785050.
One donated eye can potentially help restore sight in up to 4 people, while tissue unsuitable for transplantation may be used for medical research.
Pledge your eyes. Give the gift of sight. Transform lives.
