eye donation

EYE DONATION

Three million in India suffer from corneal blindness, and 60% of them are children.  Each eye donation can restore sight to two corneally blind people, bettering two lives.

 

You can’t take your eyes with you.  Donate.  Leave a precious gift for mankind.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What is Eye Donation?

  • Donation of eyes after death.

 

Why donate?

  • To restore sight to two blind persons through corneal transplantation.

  • 2,000,000 Indians are corneally blind, yet about only  37,000 corneas per year are currently donated.

  • Even if medically unusable for transplantion, donated eyes assist research & education.

  • A part of you lives on and helps others.

 

Who can donate eyes?

  • Anyone of any age, group, or sex.

  • Anyone with glasses, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, or cataract is qualified to donate.

 

Who cannot donate eyes?

  • Anyone with Hepatitis B and C, Rabies, AIDS, Septicaemia, Leukemia, Tetanus, Cholera, and infectious diseases like Encephalitis and Meningitis.

 

How should I prepare to donate?

  • On your Driver's license, indicate yourself an eye donor.

  • At nearerst eye bank, fill out a GIFT OF SIGHT donor pledge card.

  • Notify all blood relatives of your pledge.

  • Upon death, families are generally offered the option to donate; ask them to make sure your pledge is carried out.

 

After I pledge, what should my family do upon my death?

  • Close eye lids and turn off fans.

  • Place pillow under deceased’s head to elevate it.

  • Quickly contact nearest eye bank with address, directions, phone number.

  • Have physician death certificate readily available.

 

Tell me about the transplantation process.

  • Nearest eye bank is contacted & comes to donor as soon as possible after death.

  • In front of 2 witnesses, get written consent from family member.

  • Quick eye team actions do not hamper funeral.

  • Open casket viewing is available.

  • Trained eye bank staff and corneal surgeon evaluate donated eyes and tissue.

  • Within 4 days, cornea is transplanted.

  • By law, donor and recipient identities are kept anonymous.