While the waiting list of those needing
corneal transplantations is not too
small, more than 30,000 new victims
keep on adding each year. In spite of
the grim necessity of corneal donations,
there is a severe lack of donor eyes
in India and only 4.500 operations are
being performed every year. Unfortunately ,though
we have a pretty good number of qualified
surgeons, yet corneal transplantation
cannot be carried out due to lack of
donor corneas.
What
is Eye Donation?
Donating eyes after death is eye donation.
Eye donation means people pledging to
donate their eyes after death to be
used for corneal grafting for restoring
sight to corneal blind people.
What
is corneal blindness?
Cornea, the main focusing part of the
eye, is the clear front surface of the
eye. Like a “window”, it
allows light to enter the eye. Vision
could be markedly reduced or lost if
the cornea becomes “cloudy”
or scarred. This condition is known
as corneal blindness.
What
are the causes of corneal blindness?
Injuries to the eye, birth defects,
malnutrition, infections, chemical burns,
congenital disorders and complications
of eye surgery.
Who
can donate eyes?
Eye donors could be of any age
group or sex.
People who use spectacles-diabetics,
patients with high blood pressure,
asthma patients and those without
communicable diseases can donate
eyes.
What
is a cornea transplant?
The cornea transplant is the surgical
procedure that replaces a disc-shaped
segment of an impaired cornea with a
similarly shaped piece of a healthy
donor cornea. More than 90 of cornea
transplant operations successfully restore
the recipient's vision.
Is
the whole eye transplanted?
only the cornea (clear, front part of
the eye) is used for corneal transplants.
The sclera (white part) can sometimes
be used for sight-saving surgery. The
rest of the eye can be used for research
(if you wish) to aid in future treatment
of eye disease.
When
does the donation take place?
The surgical removal of the eye tissue
is performed soon after the time of
death, ensuring the tissue is in the
best possible condition for transplant.
This also makes sure that the funeral
arrangements are not delayed in any
way. Because the removal causes no disfiguration,
an open casket is still an option for
the donor family.
Can
the whole eye be transplanted?
Only the cornea and the sclera (white
part of the eye) can be transplanted.
The whole eye can be used for valuable
research into eye diseases and treatments
and education.
Is
there any delay in funeral arrangements?
Eye tissue is procured within
hours of death, so families may proceed
as planned with funeral arrangements. Will
eye donation affect the appearance of
the donor?
Great care is taken to preserve the
appearance of the donor. No one will
be able to see that anything has been
done. Families may even hold a viewing
and have an open casket ceremony.
Will
the donor's family pay or receive any
fees?
It is illegal to buy and sell human
eyes, organs and tissues. Any costs
associated with eye procurement are
absorbed by the eye bank.
Will
the recipients be told the identity
of the donor?
Law strictly preserves donor anonymity.
How
can I donate my eyes?
There are two very important steps you
must take to become a donor. First,
sign a
pledge form and carry it
with you. Second, TALK TO YOUR
FAMILY. Let your family members
know that you want to bring light to
someone’s dark world when you
leave this world. Unless your donor
card is available at the time of death,
your next of kin will be responsible
for granting consent. It can be a difficult
decision for them if your wishes are
not known. Having a discussion about
donation with your family is the first
step in the effort to restore sight
and save lives.
