EYE DONATIONEYE DONATION

Eye donation means people pledging to donate Eye donation means people pledging to donate their eyes after death to be used for corneal their eyes after death to be used for corneal grafting for restoring sight to corneal blind grafting for restoring sight to corneal blind

people.people.

Why Eye Donation is required? Why Eye Donation is required?

Corneal Blindness is one of the most Corneal Blindness is one of the most common causes of blindness in India. common causes of blindness in India. Every five seconds, one individual Every five seconds, one individual goes blind. goes blind.

At present 18,000 corneas are At present 18,000 corneas are collected in the country every year collected in the country every year whereas we need 100,000 corneas in whereas we need 100,000 corneas in a year to fight corneal blindness. a year to fight corneal blindness.

What is Corneal What is Corneal Blindness?Blindness?

The cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of The cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of

the eye. It is a focusing element of the eye. Vision the eye. It is a focusing element of the eye. Vision

will be dramatically reduced or lost if the cornea will be dramatically reduced or lost if the cornea

becomes cloudy from disease, injury or infection.becomes cloudy from disease, injury or infection.

Main causes of Corneal Main causes of Corneal BlindnessBlindness

InjuriesInjuriesMalnutritionMalnutrition InfectionsInfectionsChemical burnsChemical burnsCongenital disordersCongenital disordersPost operative complications or Post operative complications or

infectionsinfections

Who can Donate Eye?Who can Donate Eye?Any person can be an eye donor.Any person can be an eye donor.Persons younger than 18 years must Persons younger than 18 years must

have the authorization of the parents or have the authorization of the parents or guardian.guardian.

It does not matter even if youIt does not matter even if youWear glassesWear glassesAre hypertensive Are hypertensive Are diabetic, or Are diabetic, or Have undergone any eye surgeryHave undergone any eye surgery

What is the role of Religion in What is the role of Religion in Eye Donation?Eye Donation?

All major religious faiths approve of All major religious faiths approve of and support donation of eyes for the and support donation of eyes for the restoration of sight.restoration of sight.

Who will benefit from Eye Who will benefit from Eye Donation?Donation?

  An estimated 3 million people An estimated 3 million people who are blind due to corneal who are blind due to corneal diseases are eligible for corneal diseases are eligible for corneal transplantation. transplantation.

Eyes have to be removed within six hours of time of death. So, lose no Eyes have to be removed within six hours of time of death. So, lose no time in informing the nearest Eye Bank. You could be instrumental in time in informing the nearest Eye Bank. You could be instrumental in ensuring an eye donation in time. If someone unfortunately dies in your ensuring an eye donation in time. If someone unfortunately dies in your family or friend circle, remember to call the nearest Eye Bank. This can family or friend circle, remember to call the nearest Eye Bank. This can be done irrespective of whether the deceased had pledged his / her eyes be done irrespective of whether the deceased had pledged his / her eyes or not.or not.

Switch off fans, keep air conditioner or cooler running and place wet Switch off fans, keep air conditioner or cooler running and place wet cotton with ice over the closed eyelids. It will help keep the tissue moist . cotton with ice over the closed eyelids. It will help keep the tissue moist . Raise head with a pillow.Raise head with a pillow.

    The Eye Bank personnel with a doctor or trained technician visits the The Eye Bank personnel with a doctor or trained technician visits the

donors home. This is done free.donors home. This is done free. 10 cc of blood sample is collected from the donor for testing.10 cc of blood sample is collected from the donor for testing. The eyes are removed by a trained person using sterile procedure. It The eyes are removed by a trained person using sterile procedure. It

leaves no scar disfigurement of the face. Eye donation gives sight to two leaves no scar disfigurement of the face. Eye donation gives sight to two blind persons as one blind person receives one donated eye.blind persons as one blind person receives one donated eye.

On reaching the Eye Bank, tissues are examined, processed and used for On reaching the Eye Bank, tissues are examined, processed and used for corneal transplant operation as early as possible.corneal transplant operation as early as possible.

The needy patients are contacted in accordance with the waiting list at The needy patients are contacted in accordance with the waiting list at the Eye Bank. Emergency cases are dealt within conformity of guidelines.the Eye Bank. Emergency cases are dealt within conformity of guidelines.

The donated eyes are never bought or sold. Request for eye donation is The donated eyes are never bought or sold. Request for eye donation is always attended to.always attended to.

The recipient of corneal will always remain anonymous but the donor The recipient of corneal will always remain anonymous but the donor family should be satisfied knowing that the eyes have been used to family should be satisfied knowing that the eyes have been used to restore the vision of two blind persons.restore the vision of two blind persons.

EYE BANKING IN INDIAEYE BANKING IN INDIA

In India , thee are approximately In India , thee are approximately 120 lakh blind in both eyes and 80 120 lakh blind in both eyes and 80 lakh blind in one eye , which is lakh blind in one eye , which is about one fourth of the total blind about one fourth of the total blind population of the world . This population of the world . This means 14.9 out of every 1000 means 14.9 out of every 1000 people in India are blind compared people in India are blind compared to just 3 per 1000 in the developed to just 3 per 1000 in the developed countries.countries.

Blindness in most cases is avoidable Blindness in most cases is avoidable that is, either preventable or curable. Of that is, either preventable or curable. Of the 120 lakh blind, approximately 103 the 120 lakh blind, approximately 103 lakh are curable by relatively simple lakh are curable by relatively simple operations, unfortunately yet they operations, unfortunately yet they remain uncured.remain uncured.

Seven lakh of Indias population Seven lakh of Indias population suffering from corneal blindness, mostly suffering from corneal blindness, mostly children in their early childhood, can be children in their early childhood, can be cured by corneal transplantation.cured by corneal transplantation.

Although there are enough qualified Although there are enough qualified surgeons and plenty of potential surgeons and plenty of potential patients, corneal transplantation cannot patients, corneal transplantation cannot be carried out due to lack of donor be carried out due to lack of donor corneascorneas

The reason for very low number of eye The reason for very low number of eye donations are manifolddonations are manifold

Lack of awareness in general publicLack of awareness in general public Improper development of infrastructureImproper development of infrastructureAbsence of motivation even among the Absence of motivation even among the

trained personnel ortrained personnel orSocial and religious taboosSocial and religious taboos

How do I donate my eye? How do I donate my eye? Contact the nearest eye bank by phone or Contact the nearest eye bank by phone or

personal visit and it will register your pledge to personal visit and it will register your pledge to donate eyes and will provide you with an eye donate eyes and will provide you with an eye donation Card. It is preferable if all the donation Card. It is preferable if all the members of the family pledge their eyes members of the family pledge their eyes together, together,

However any person can individually pledge However any person can individually pledge eyes at any time in his / her life.eyes at any time in his / her life.

The eyes of a deceased person can also be The eyes of a deceased person can also be donated whether he / she has pledged the eyes donated whether he / she has pledged the eyes in his /her life or not. Under the law, relatives of in his /her life or not. Under the law, relatives of the deceased can donate his/ her eye provided the deceased can donate his/ her eye provided he/ she (the deceased) had never spoken he/ she (the deceased) had never spoken against eye donation.against eye donation.

What part of the donated eye is What part of the donated eye is useful? useful?

All parts of the eye are useful. The All parts of the eye are useful. The corneal (front portion) of the eye is corneal (front portion) of the eye is used for transplantation.used for transplantation.

NO EYES ARE WASTEDNO EYES ARE WASTED

How Will the Donated eyes be How Will the Donated eyes be used?used?

After the eyes are acquired, the eyes After the eyes are acquired, the eyes will be processed by the Eye Bank will be processed by the Eye Bank and supplied to the eye specialists and supplied to the eye specialists who will transplant the corneal tissue who will transplant the corneal tissue into the eye of a person blinded by into the eye of a person blinded by corneal disease. corneal disease.

EYE DONATION"EYE DONATION"

Let it be your family traditionLet it be your family tradition

Address & Contact number Address & Contact number of Eye Bankof Eye Bank

Join this movement of Join this movement of "EYE DONATION“"EYE DONATION“

BECOME OUR "Sight BECOME OUR "Sight Ambassador"Ambassador"

WHY ONLY THESE PEOPLE.EVEN YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.WHY ONLY THESE PEOPLE.EVEN YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

DON’T BURY OR BURN DON’T BURY OR BURN

DONATE EYES AND LIVE FOREVER DONATE EYES AND LIVE FOREVER EVEN AFTER YOUR DEATHEVEN AFTER YOUR DEATH