ICARE Eye Hospital, Noida reports a remarkable surge in corneal donations during the National Eye Donation Fortnight 2023, underscoring the resilience and compassion of local communities.
Corneal blindness is a significant issue in India, accounting for 8% of total blindness in individuals over 50 years of age and a staggering 37.5% in those under 50. While cataract remains the leading cause of blindness in individuals over 50, uncorrected refractive errors are the major culprits among those under 49. Corneal transplantation, facilitated through eye donation, is a powerful remedy for corneal blindness. Unfortunately, there is a significant disparity between the demand and supply of corneas in India, with approximately 11 lakh people waiting for corneal transplants.
To address this shortage, the National Eye Donation Fortnight takes proactive steps. It brings together eye banks, eye donation centers, and training centers from across the country. Their mission is to raise public awareness about the significance of eye donation and encourage individuals to commit to donating their eyes after their passing. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of donor eyes and help those in need of sight-saving transplants.
During the 2022-2023 period, a remarkable 109 corneal donations were made as compared to 95 donations in the previous year (2021-2022).
“India has witnessed significant geographical disparities in eye donations, resulting in a noticeable gap between the demand and supply of corneas, particularly in the NCR/Noida region. ICARE eye bank, established in 2000, plays a crucial role in the retrieval, transportation, processing, and utilization of corneas to address this gap. Hospital corneal retrieval programs, grief counseling, public awareness campaigns, and accurate information dissemination are essential tools to boost eye donation rates. We have observed over 12% surge in Corneal Donations Post-Pandemic,” said Jyoti Batra, consultant – cataract and cornea, ICARE eye hospital.
In observance of Eye Donation Fortnight, ICARE eye hospital has a series of initiatives to raise awareness and encourage eye donation, including internal awareness campaigns, collaborations with NOFAA (Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations), staff awareness activities, and extensive promotion on social media platforms.
Despite the life-changing potential of eye donation, it remains less popular in India due to misconceptions and cultural beliefs. Common myths include doubts about the proper utilization of donated eyes and concerns about body disfigurement. Addressing these misconceptions is a crucial aspect of the ongoing awareness event.
