Eye Donation

There are currently an estimated 15 million blind people in India . 6.8 million of these suffer from corneal blindness with vision less than 6/60 in atleast one eye, and of these, about 1 million have bilateral corneal blindness. If the present trend continues, it is expected that the number of corneally blind individuals in India will increase to 8.4 million in 2010 and 10.6 million by 2020.

Of these atleast 3 million can be benefited by corneal transplantation. Thus, to effectively meet the evergrowing demand, we need around 150,000 corneal transplants to be performed every year. However, the current supply is only 22000 corneas per year.

C U Shah Eye Bank

Sri C U Shah Eye Bank started functioning in Sankara Nethralaya in September 1979. The department of Medical Sociology was established in 1990 with the aim of promoting awareness on eye donation by educating and motivating the public for this noble cause. The C U Shah Eye Bank, over the last 25 years, has seen a tremendous increase in the number of eye donations collected from a mere 8 eyes collected in 1980 to 1144 eyes in 2006.

Exclusive Facilities:

1. 24 Hours round the clock service.
2. Dedicated Phone Line (24 Hours ) 044 2828 1919
3. Direct Line to the Manager –Medical Sociology- 044 2822 6694.
4. Structured procedure for procurement and corneal button processing with sterile precautions under laminar flow.
5. Evaluation of donor tissue by Slit Lamp, Specular Microscopy
6. Appropriate serological screening of the donor blood sample.
7. Preservation in storage media.

A suitable patient is called upon and corneal transplantation surgery is performed as early as possible.

EYE DONATIONS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is Cornea?

The cornea is the clear, transparent dome in front of the "black portion" of the eye. It is also the main focusing surface, which converges light rays as they enter the eye to focus on the retina. It is thus the most important part of the optical apparatus of the Eye. Loss of transparency directly results in loss of vision.

What is Corneal Transplantation?

A Corneal transplant is a surgery which replaces the opaque cornea with a clear cornea obtained from a human donor eye.

Before Surgery After Surgery

How does a cornea become opaque?

Who can be an eye donor?

Practically anybody from the age of 1 year. There is no upper age limit. Spectacle Wearers, persons who had cataract surgery, diabetics and hypertensives can donate eyes. Person blind from retinal or optic nerve disease donate his eyes.

The ultimate decision about usage for transplantation will be made after evaluation.

Can the next-of-kin consent to a donation if the deceased family member hasn't signed a pledge form?

Yes.

How can I be of help on the death of a close relative or friend?

Motivate the next of kin of the deceased person to donate their eyes. E yes need to be collected within 6 hours of death. Call your nearest eye bank at the earliest. You are authorized to donate the eyes of your beloved relatives at the time of their death, even if a pledge for donation has not been made earlier by the deceased.

What should I do till the Eye Donation team arrives?

• Keep both eyes of deceased closed and covered with moist cotton.
• Switch off the overhead fan.
• Raise the head end of the body by about 6 inches, if possible - to decrease the incidence of bleeding during the removal of the eyes.
• If possible, instill antibiotic eye drops periodically.

What is the sequence of events in Sankara Nethralaya once I call?

A Call for donating eyes sets in motion the Eye Bank machinery and a team is dispatched within 15 minutes. At the site, the eyes of the deceased are enucleated without causing any disfigurement. This procedure takes about 10-15 minutes.

Who cannot be a donor?

• Death from unknown cause.
• Death due to infectious caused viz. Rabies, syphilis, infectious hepatitis, septicemia, and AIDS.
• Any frank ocular infection , previous refractive surgery.

Can the whole eye be transplanted?

No. Only the cornea and sclera can be transplanted. However, the entire eyeball is enucleated, to enable the corneo-scleral disc to be fashioned surgically in a sterile environment.

Can a living person donate his/her eyes?

No

Can the recipients be told who donated the eyes?

No. The gift of sight is made anonymously.

Any specials phone no. for eye bank and eye donation?

Yes, a dedicated special phone: 044 28281919 and 044 28271616

Our appeal

• Take pledge to donate your eyes
• Motivate and educate others about eye donation.
• In case any death incidents; motivate the next of kin of the deceased person to donate their eyes. Call your nearest eye bank.