Bhubaneswar: One lakh transplantable tissues are needed annually to address the corneal blindness problem affecting 10 lakh people in India, experts stated during a conference on ‘Cornea and Eye Banking’ organized by the Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) on Saturday.
Sujata Das, secretary of EBAI, said corneal blindness is a major public health issue and a leading cause of preventable blindness in India. “Corneal blindness affects people of all ages. The primary causes include infections, injuries, and diseases like dystrophy,” she added.
She highlighted that eye banks play a crucial role in preventing and treating corneal blindness by facilitating the collection, processing, and distribution of donated corneal tissues for transplantation. However, the demand for transplantable tissues far exceeds the supply, resulting in a significant backlog of patients awaiting corneal transplants, she noted.
Das highlighted that around 800 corneal transplants were performed in Odisha last year, compared to approximately 28,000 across India. “This number is insufficient. It needs to increase to meet the demand for these tissues. One of the major challenges is the lack of public awareness about eye donation,” she added.
To address this issue, the experts underscored the importance of raising public awareness about eye donation and encouraging people to pledge their eyes for donation after death. They also stressed the need to strengthen the infrastructure and capacity of eye banks nationwide to ensure the availability of quality corneal tissues for transplantation.
Srikant Kumar Sahu, director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, urged families to donate the corneas of deceased relatives immediately, debunking myths surrounding eye donation. “Anyone can pledge to donate their corneas after death. It is a noble act that gives the gift of vision to others,” he said.
Namrata Sharma, vice-president of EBAI, explained that the association serves as a facilitator in promoting eye donation and distributing cadaver corneal tissues. “The most important task is to create awareness among people about the importance of donating corneal tissues to save the eyesight of patients in need. With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including the government, healthcare providers, and the public, it is possible to eliminate corneal blindness as a major cause of preventable blindness in India,” she said.
The experts also emphasised the importance of regular eye check-ups and early diagnosis and treatment of corneal diseases to prevent the progression of corneal blindness.
Deputy chief minister KV Singh Deo inaugurated the two-day conference on Friday. Around 250 ophthalmologists, eye bank/eye care professionals, researchers, administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders from across the country are attending the event.
