Eye Donation : The Power To See After Death

What is eye donation?

Eye donation is a process where eye is removed from the body of a deceased person after obtaining consent of the relative(s) closest to him /her. The cornea of such eyes is transplanted in the eyes of patients blinded by corneal diseases.

What is the cornea?

The cornea is the clear surface at the front of the eye which actually appears as black of the eye. It is the main focusing element of the eye. Should the cornea become cloudy from disease, injury, infection, Vitamin A deficiency or any other cause, vision will be dramatically reduced.

Why eye donation is important?

Eye donation is important because about one million people are blinded by corneal diseases in India. And about 25000 are added to this pool every year. But the number of eyes donated are around 12000 which leaves us with increasing deficit of around 13000 eyes every year.
Corneal blindness commonly afflicts younger people and deprives them of educational and vocational opportunities. Corneal transplant surgery restores sight and makes a big difference in the lives of these individuals. Many of them still continue to suffer because of non availability of donor eyes. There is an urgent need to enhance awareness of eye donation and procurement of donor eyes to restore parity between demand and supply of donor eyes

Who can be an eye donor?

Anyone can be an eye donor.
Cataracts, poor eyesight or age do not prohibit you from becoming a donor. Prospective donors should indicate their intention on donor cards. It is important for individuals wanting to be donors to inform family members of their wishes to help ensure that their desires are fulfilled.

What is an eye bank?

An eye bank is a non-profit organization which obtains, medically evaluates and distributes eyes donated by caring individuals for use in corneal transplantation.

How soon after a donation must a cornea be transplanted?

Enucleation ( removal of the eyeball) of the donor eye should take place within 4- 6 hours of death. A corneal transplant is usually performed within 5 days after donation depending on the eye banking facilities.

What precautions should the family of the donor take to preserve the eyes of the deceased?

Close the eyes of the deceased and place moist cotton and ice covered with polythene over them. Raise the head about six inches with a pillow and switch off the fan.

Is the whole eye transplanted?

No. Only the cornea can be transplanted.

Are there religious objections to eye, organ, or tissue donations?

No. Donation is an opportunity to help save a life or restore someone's sight. Eye donation is consistent with the beliefs and attitudes of major religions. Most religions preach the continuity of soul and not the body.

Will eye donation affect the appearance of the donor?

No. Great care is taken to preserve the donor's appearance. Removal of eyeball is followed by the insertion of the artificial eye which restores the original look of the eye

Is there a fee charged for this donation?

No. It is illegal to buy or sell human eyes, organs, and tissues. Any costs associated with eye procurement are absorbed by the eye bank placing the tissue.

Will the donor family be told who received the corneas?

No. The gift of sight is made anonymously. Strict laws prohibit provision of specific information about the recipient available to the donor family and vice versa.

If a person has already signed a donor card, how can they be sure that their wishes regarding donation will be respected after death?

Tell your family you want to be an eye donor. Next-of-kin consent is required for donation, so it is helpful if your family knows ahead of time how you feel about it. Eye donation should not be included in a will as the eyes must be used long before a will can be probated. Nevertheless, the time of making a will is a good time to discuss eye, organ, and tissue donation with family members.

Medical Tourism in India