Eye banks:

ut why then does the solution seem so elusive, especially if the procedure to harvest a person's eyes after death is so simple? The reasons are many, but primarily it has been the lack of a concerted effort by everyone involved, which includes, professionals, the media, Government, voluntary organizations and civil society at large.

So, what then is the solution? To improve awareness, all possible approaches need to be employed, be it the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programs, grief counseling, or extending our wholehearted support to all the eye banks and voluntary organizations involved in the cause of eye donations. More importantly, I think we all have the power to make a difference; we just need to shed our apathy and become eye donors today.

Facts about eye donation

• Eyes can be donated only after death
• Eyes must be removed within 4 - 6 hours after death
• Only a Registered Medical Practitioner can remove eyes from a deceased.
• The eye bank team will remove the eyes from the home of the deceased or from a hospital
• Eye removal does not delay the funeral since the entire procedure takes 20-30 minutes only
• A small quantity of blood will be drawn to rule out communicable diseases
• Eye retrieval does not cause disfigurement
• Religions are for eye donation
• The identities of both the donor and the recipient are kept confidential