EYE Donation - Some Facts

Eye Donation

Please call the C U Shah Eye Bank at Sankara Nethralaya, if in Chennai, as early as possible on 28281919 (Hot line for Eye Donation) / 28271616 as eyes have to be removed within six hours after death occurs

Do you know that our eyes live even after our death? Do you know that we can light the life of a blind person by donating our eyes after our death? Do you know that eye donation is the noblest of all causes?

C U Shah Eye Bank at SANKARA NETHRALAYA operates 24 hours throughout the year. Through our Eye Bank, we obtain, evaluate and distribute eyes received as donations from good-minded people for use in corneal transplantation, research and education. We do this with utmost care taking into account patient safety by adopting strict medical standards. While eyes that are found suitable for corneal transplantation are used for corneal transplantation, other eyes received that are not suitable for transplantation, are also put to good use as these are used for research and education.

Magnitude of the problem of blindness in India
We have an estimated 4.6 million people with corneal blindness that is curable through corneal transplantation with eyes received by us as donations. Out of this, an estimated 4.6 million are 90% of the people with corneal blindness are below the age of 45 years including some 4.5 million below the tender age of 12 as could be seen from the following chart:

More than 90% of the corneal transplantation is carried out successfully in restoring vision to people with corneal blindness. Including infants born with cloudy cornea, corneal transplantation can make a big difference to the rest of their lives. Your beloved ones thus live and light up the lives of others even after death.

Some frequently asked questions about eye donation

Who can be eye donors?
Any good-minded human being from the age of z year can be a donor without any maximum limit for donating the eye. All one needs to do is bequeath his or her eyes by taking a simple pledge to donate the eye after death. While taking a pledge during ones lifetime itself is a noble deed, it requires the support of the relatives or friends to carry out the wishes of eye donation of the deceased. They need to call up the Eye Bank immediately as the eye need to be removed within a maximum of six hours of death. People using spectacles, diabetes and hypertensives can make eye donation.

Can the next of kin consent to a donation if the deceased person has not signed an eye donation form?
Yes, the relatives of the deceased can decide on the eye donation of their beloved one.

How to make the eye donation?
The relatives of the deceased person can donate the eyes of their beloved ones immediately after the death. As explained already, the eyes need to be collected within six hours of death. So, call the C U Shah Eye Bank if the deceased person is in Chennai, as early as possible on 28281919 / 28271616

Please remember the following after making the call to the C U Shah Eye Bank at Sankara Nethralaya

• Keep both eyes of the beloved deceased closed and cover with moist cotton.
• Switch off the ceiling fan, if any, directly over the deceased person
• If possible, apply antibiotic eye drops periodically in the deceased’s eyes to reduce the chance of any infection.
• Raise the head of the deceased by about six inches, if possible, to reduce the chances of bleeding at the time of removal of the eyes

Who cannot donate their eyes?
Death due to unknown causes. Death due to infections caused viz. rabies, syphilis, infectious hepatitis, septicemia, and AIDS, cannot be a donor.

What is a 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

How does a cornea become opaque?

• Infection
• Injuries
• Iatrogenic (Malpractice, Improper Post-op. care after any eye surgery)
• Malnutrition
• Congenital/Hereditary.

What is corneal transplantation?
A Corneal transplant is an operation that replaces the opaque cornea with a clear cornea obtained from a human donor.

Are there any religious conflicts in eye donation?
There are no religious conflicts on eye donation. Eye donation 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.

Will eye donation cause delays in funeral arrangement?
No, Eye removal is performed within half an hour after death and leaves no disfiguring, that would interfere with common funeral practices.

Is the whole eye of the donor transplanted?
No, only the cornea is transplanted. However, the rest of the eye is used for research and education purposes.

Can a person who is blind due to retinal or optic nerve disease donate his eyes?
Yes, provided the cornea of the donor is clear.

Can a living person donate his eyes?
No, donation from living persons is not accepted.

Will the recipient be informed of the donor’s details?
No, the gift of sight is made anonymously.

Are there any dedicated telephone numbers for calling the Eye Bank for eye donation?
Yes. In Chennai, we have a dedicated 28279949 where we can be contacted any time. As your call expressing your desire to donate the eyes of your beloved deceased is very important to us, our Eye Bank works 24 hours a day and 365 days in a year. Family members of the deceased persons can contact us on this phone number

How long will you take to reach?
Our team is trained to leave the hospital within 15 minutes from the time of the call and depending on the distance, will reach within a maximum of one hour.

For emergencies, more details and making your eye donation pledge, please contact:

A.P. IRUNGOVEL, M.A., M.Phil.,PGDPSY.,PGDPR.,
MANAGER MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY, SANKARA NETHRALAYA,
18, COLLEGE ROAD, CHENNAI 600 006,
PH: 28271616 Extn. 1314. Direct Line - 28226694.
E-MAIL: api@snmail.org
irungovel2000@yahoo.com