LET THEM SMILE WITH OUR EYES – DONATE EYES

(Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, declare National Eye Donation Fortnight. This fortnight will be celebrated in between August 25 to September 8. And September 8 will be observed as National Eye Donation Day.)

India is shouldering the largest burden of global blindness. There
are 45 million people in the world who are blind, of which as many as
15 million are Indian. Three times that number suffers from a
significant impairment of vision that threatens their ability to be
physically or financially self-sufficient. The cumulative loss to
the country's GNP is estimated to be to the tune of US $11.1 billion
(Shammana et al 1998). The total population of our country is 1.08
billion, out of the same 52 million are having mild visual problems,
including 3,20,000 children. If we look at the root cause of the
blindness, we may be surprised to hear that 66% of the causes are
either preventable or curable. While the problem is formidable, the
need to take up the challenge of curtailing it is compelling.
Institutions of eye care are striving to create a positive impact and
comprehensive quality eye care has become the core objective of one
among them, the Chennai based Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.The Department of Medical Sociology of Sankara Nethralaya is frequently organizing public health education programmes in various places like schools, colleges, and industrial establishments in collaboration with NGOs. Various issues on eye care and eye donation are explained in such public health education programmes.

What is an eye bank?

An eye bank is an organisation, which obtain, evaluates and distributes eyes from humanitarian-minded citizens for use in corneal transplantation, research and education. To ensure patient safety, the donated eyes are evaluated under strict medical standards. All donated eyes not suitable for corneal transplantation are used for valuable research and education.

Why should eyes be donated?

Donated human eyes are necessary in preservation and restoration of sight through corneal transplantation, research and education. More than 90% corneal transplant operation successfully restores vision in people suffering from blindness due to corneal problems. Infants born with cloudy corneas have an opportunity to see following corneal transplantation.

What is the cornea?



The cornea is the clear, transparent dome in front of the "black portion" of the eye. It is also the main focussing 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 an operation, which replaces the opaque cornea with a clear cornea Obtained from a human donor eye.

Before the corneal transplantation After the corneal transplantation

How does a cornea become opaque?

1.Infection
2.Injuries
3.Iatrogenic (Malpractice, Improper Post-op. care after any eye surgery)
4.Malnutrition
5.Congenital/Hereditary.

Magnitude of the problem in India

1/4th of the world’s blind in India

27 million- moderate sight impairment

9 million- bilateral blind

260,000- blind children

No of Corneal Blinds in India 4.6 Million Out of 4.6 Million 90% are below the age of 45 years including 60% are below the age of 12 years.

Out of 4.6 Million, at least 3 Million can benefit by Corneal transplantation.

Who can be an eye donor?

Practically anybody from the age of 1 year. There is no maximum age limit. Poor eye sight and age make no difference. One can bequeath his eyes by taking a pledge while he is alive. He resolve to donate his eyes after his death. This by itself is a noble act but it requires relatives or friends to carry out his pledge, his desire, after his death.

Spectacle Wearers, persons who had cataract surgery, diabetics and hypertensive can donate eyes. The ultimate decision about usage for transplantation will be made after evaluation.

Who cannot be a donor?

-Death of unknown cause.
-Death due to infectious caused viz. Rabies, syphilis, infectious hepatitis, septicemia, and

AIDS,

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

Yes.

How to donate?

You are authorized to donate the eyes of your beloved relatives at the time of their death. That the eyes need to be collected within 6 hours of death. So, call the eye bank as early as possible after the death.

Things to do after making the call:

  1. Keep both eyes of deceased closed and covered with moist cotton.
  2. Switch off the overhead fan.
  3. If possible, instill antibiotic eye drops periodically in the deceased's eyes-to reduce the chance of infection.
  4. Raise the head end of the body by about 6 inches, if possible - to lessen the incidence of bleeding during the removal of the eyes.

Is there any delay in funeral arrangements?

No, Eyes removal is performed shortly (within half an hour) after death and leaves no visible signs that would interfere with common funeral arrangements and practices.

Is there religious conflict?

No, Donations gives a gift of life or sight to others. As such, it is consistent with beliefs and attitudes of all major religious and ethical traditions.

Can the whole eye be transplanted?

No. Only the cornea can be transplanted. However, the rest in part of the donor eye is used for some therapeutic use , research and education.

Can a person blind from retinal or optic nerve disease donate his eyes?

Yes. Provided the cornea is clear.

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 no: 28281919 and 28271616 is available for 24 hours service. Family members of the deceased persons can contact this phone no. to donate the eyes of the deceased persons.

What happens to the eyes received from eye donation ?

* Tissue Evaluation

At the eye bank, the donor corneas strictly evaluated by various procedures including slit lamp examination. Serology examination, specular microscopic evaluation done by the specialist.

* Tissue processing and preservation

At the eye bank, the corneas are removed from the eye ball and preserved in special storage solutions that can keep the corneal healthy for 14 days.

* Tissue Distribution

Good quality corneas are used for Corneal Transplant surgeries. The donor corneas are used for various types of keratoplasty procedures including multiple procedures.

The donor sclera is preserved in absolute alcohol and used for various surgical procedures of our Glaucoma Services, Ocular Trauma and Oculo Plasty services.

And rests in part of donor eye ball are used for research by the research units of Micro Biology, Biochemistry, Ocular Pathology, Molecular Biology and genetics in our institution.

What help I can do for the noble cause?

  • Dial the eye bank (if you are in Chennai. Dial 2828 1919 or 2827 1616) soon after unfortunate death of your near & dear one.
  • Consent to donate the eyes of your close relative or friend.
  • Motivate family members of the person who has died in your area.
  • Spread information about eye care and eye donation. Author and his associates of Sankara Nethralaya can come and deliver a lecture in Tamil or English with interaction sessions if you could organize a seminar or awareness programme in your area, office or club etc.
  • You can sponsor the stickers with messages on eye donation, publicity materials and distribute to public with the help of eye bank.
  • You can organize awareness programme on eye care and eye donation in your flats association, office, school, club etc.
  • Make yourself a friend of Eye Bank.

-By SHRI A P IRUNGOVEL

( - Author is a Medical Sociologist and he is Head of the Departments of Eye Bank and Tele-ophthalmology, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. E- mail: )

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