The National Eye Donation Fortnight is observed every year from 25th August to 8th September. During this fortnight certain facts need to be highlighted for general public awareness.
1. What is eye donation?
Eye donation refers to the removal of the Eyeball from a dead person to be used in another living person. From the whole eyeball thus removed the clear transparent cornea is removed and is used to replace a diseased or opaque cornea.
2. What is cornea?
The cornea is the dome shaped transparent covering the front of the eye. It is about 12mm in diameter and 0.5 mm thick. Any injury to the deeper layers of the cornea will leave a permanent scar or opacity which can impair vision.
3. What is corneal transplantation?
The surgical procedure of implanting a diseased or opaque cornea with a transparent cornea from a dead person is called Corneal Transplantation. It is also known as Penetrating Keratoplasty, Lamellar Keratoplasty, or corneal grafting.
4. Why is Eye Donation needed?
There are at least 70 lakh people in the whole country requiring cornel transplant. The yearly retrieval rate of cornea is less than 20,000. Since till date no synthetic cornea has been manufactured, only a human cornea can replace a human cornea. So there is a shortage of actual eyes at any given point of time. Thus, the need for actual willingness for eye donation.
5. Can the whole eye be transplanted?
No, the whole eye cannot be transplanted. Only the cornea can be transplanted which means that the eye which requires the donated cornea should have an otherwise normal eye except for the abnormal cornea. The rest of the donated eye is used for valuable research and education.
6. Is there any delay in funeral arrangements?
No, eye donated normally is done within 6 hours of death and the actual procedure of removal of eyes takes only 10 to 15 minutes of time.
7. Will eye donation affect the appearance of the donors?
The appearance is not affected as the surgical procedures done by highly skilled professionals are designed to maintain the natural appearance of the donor.
8. How can I be an eye donor?
Pledge forms for eye donation are available at Eye Department Naga Hospital Kohima. You can indicate your willingness by filling up the pledge form and also discuss your wishes with your family members as your next of kin will have to make the final decision for you at the time of your death.
In conclusion, let us recap certain facts about eye donation:
a) Almost any one of any age can pledge to donate Eyes after death.
b) The eyes have to be removed within 6 hours of death.
c) Eye removal takes only 10 to 15 minutes and leaves no scar or disfigurement of the face.
d) Eye donation gives sight to two blind persons. One blind person is given one cornea at a time.
e) The donated corneas are transplanted to patients’ eyes who are on waiting list in accordance with the priority based on guidelines to avoid malpractice.
‘Let us donate eyes and give the gift of sight to two blind persons’.
Dr. M. A. Wati
Member Secretary, DDBCS
Dimapur.
