The National Eye Donation Fortnight is observed every year from 25th August to 8th September. National Eye Donation Fortnight is a campaign which aims to create mass public awareness about the importance of eye donation and to motivate people to donate their pledge eyes for donation after death. This campaign was started in the year 1985, by the Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government Of India.

India has been struggling to get donors, this happens because of the religious or social myths and lack of awareness among people. Eye donation is a noble cause. Donating your eyes to another person can light up their life. Two people can be benefited. Eyes of a donated person will go to two different corneal blind individuals.

What is eye donation?

Eye donation, is a process of donating a person’s eyes after his/her death. This  can help people suffering from corneal blindness. Any profound decrease in vision or blindness due to diseases of the cornea is termed corneal blindness. It is the 4th most common cause of blindness all over the world. The corneas should be removed preferably within an hour, but can be removed up to a maximum of 6-8 hours, of death, donation is carried out only after death.

Who can donate their eyes?

Everyone can be a donor, irrespective of their age, caste, creed, sex, religion or blood group. Even people who suffer from long sightedness or short sightedness and wear glasses or use contact lens can also become an eye donor. Although, it is important to screen a donor’s medical history. Conditions such as HIV positive status or AIDS, severe infectious problems such as sepsis or hepatitis that is active do not allow a donation.

For eye donation, please fill the pledge form and send it to any of the nearest eye bank. They will register you as an Eye donor and will provide you an individual Eye Donor Card.”

After eye donation

• The donor’s family receives a certificate of appreciation from the eye bank.
• The eyes are taken to the eye bank and evaluated by a trained eye bank staff.
• Tests are carried out and the tissue is sent to the corneal surgeon.
• The waiting list is referred and the recipient is called for corneal transplant.
• Corneal transplant is performed.
• Periodic follow-up of the recipient is done over time to ensure that the graft is successful.