Eye Donation — The Gift of Sight After Life
Give the Gift of Sight. Let Your Eyes Continue to See the World.
Our eyes are precious gifts. Through eye donation after death, the corneal tissue may help restore useful vision to a person suffering from corneal blindness.
What Is Eye Donation?
Eye donation means donating the eyes, particularly the corneal tissue, after death. The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that allows light to enter and helps focus images. When it becomes opaque or severely damaged, vision may be lost. A corneal transplant can restore useful vision in suitable patients.
How Big Is the Problem?
The exact national burden is difficult to quantify because India still has important gaps in comprehensive corneal-blindness and transplant registries. However, available estimates indicate that around 1.1–1.2 million Indians suffer from corneal blindness, while approximately 25,000–30,000 new cases may be added every year.)
The Government of India’s National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) currently cites approximately 1,00,000 people requiring corneal transplantation each year.
Other recent Government and professional estimates suggest that the actual requirement may be substantially higher—around 1.5–2 lakh donor corneas annually when the existing unmet need and new cases are considered.)
The critical gap
The problem is not only the number of people who need surgery.
The problem is the shortage of suitable donor corneas.
Recent data presented at a Government medical institution indicate that in 2023–24 approximately 49,315 corneas were retrieved, but only 27,394 were found suitable for transplantation and actually used. This illustrates an important point: collecting eyes is not the same as having transplantable corneas.
Thus, India faces a substantial gap between:
People needing corneal transplantation → corneas donated → corneas suitable for transplantation → corneas actually transplanted.
What Is the Backlog?
It is tempting to quote a single number for India’s “corneal transplant backlog.” However, there is currently no single, universally accepted national waiting-list figure that accurately represents all patients who could benefit from transplantation.
A 2023 analysis specifically highlighted a significant data gap in India regarding the exact number of people with transplantable corneal blindness and the number currently awaiting transplantation.)
Nevertheless, the scale of the problem is clear:
- Around 1.1–1.2 million people are estimated to have corneal blindness.
- 25,000–30,000 new cases may be added each year.
- At least 1 lakh corneal transplants annually are commonly cited as necessary.
- Some recent Government estimates place the requirement at 1.5–2 lakh corneas annually.
- The number of suitable donor corneas available for transplantation remains substantially lower than this requirement. )
Why Is It Important?
For someone with corneal blindness, a donated cornea can mean the possibility of seeing again, greater independence and a better quality of life.
Your eyes may no longer need to see after death—but your corneas may help someone else see.
Who Can Donate?
People of many ages and backgrounds can potentially donate. Wearing spectacles, previous cataract surgery, diabetes or hypertension do not automatically prevent donation. The authorised eye bank makes the final decision after medical assessment and screening.
Corneal donation can generally be performed within 6–8 hours after death, making early contact with an eye bank very important.
Spreading Awareness
Awareness is essential to increasing eye donation. Dadhichi Dehdan Samiti has played an important role in promoting organ and eye donation and encouraging people to pledge.
Divyadrishti Eye Centre, Patna has also been actively involved in creating awareness about eye donation and corneal transplantation through awareness programmes, public interaction and educational initiatives.
Honouring Donor Families
Eye donation is possible because of the generosity of donors and their families. Felicitation and recognition of donor families express gratitude and encourage others to follow their example.
A Small Decision With a Lifelong Impact
Discuss eye donation with your family today. Make your wishes known. Your final act can help another person see the world.
Pledge Today. Inspire Your Family. Give the Gift of Sight.
Pledge to donate your eyes.
Tell your family.
Contact an authorised eye bank promptly after death.
Give the Gift of Sight — A Gift That Lives Beyond You.
WANT TO PLEDGE YOUR EYES?
Make your decision today and discuss it with your family.
[PLEDGE FOR EYE DONATION]
[CONTACT: Dadhichi Dehdan Samiti,Bihar Mobile no: 8084053399
EYE BANK,RIO,IGIMS,Patna,Contact No:0612 2297099,8544413012]