R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, SEP 4
Chennai-based eye-care major Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital has organized a human chain to raise awareness on eye donation as a part of the National Eye donation fortnight 2022 at Edward Elliot’s Beach in Chennai on Saturday.
The National Eye Donation Fortnight is observed every year from August 25 to September 8. Over 200 from different age groups participated in the human chain programme. They include college students, doctors & staff of Dr Agarwal Eye Hospital and the general public. The participants held placards with messages to create public awareness about the importance of eye donation.
- National Eye Donation fortnight observed every year from 25th Aug to 8th Sept
- More than 200 people pledge to donate eye by signing and getting their donor cards
- Even though one pair of eyes can give vision to 4 people, there is a huge gap between demand and supply of the eyes: Dr Preethi, Senior Cornea Consultant & Medical Director – Dr Agarwal’s Eye Bank
- the eyes of dead persons can be harvested even if they were not pledged eye donation: Dr S Soundari
Addressing the media, Dr Preethi, Senior Cornea Consultant & Medical Director – Dr Agarwal’s Eye Bank said, “Even though one pair of eyes can give vision to 4 people, there is a huge gap between demand and supply of the eyes. National Eye Donation fortnight is observed at all our Dr Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals, campaigning to bring the masses on a common platform to understand the importance of eye donation”
“According to the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB), one-third of the world’s visually challenged population is from India accounting for over 1.2 crore people with visual impairment and corneal diseases are the major causes of blindness after cataracts and glaucoma. According to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey 2019, Corneal blindness is the major cause of blindness in patients aged less than 50 years, accounting for 37.5 % of cases and the second most important cause among patients aged more than 50 years. Majority of cases, corneal blindness can be corrected through eye donation. According to a global survey on eye banking and corneal transplantation, for every 70 corneal recipients worldwide only 1 donor cornea is available. This emphasizes that there is a huge demand for donor cornea,” Dr Preethi added.
Dr S Soundari said that the eyes of dead persons can be harvested even if they were not pledged eye donation, provided their relatives and family members gracefully come forward voluntarily for the donation. Even those who underwent cataract operation and people suffering from diabetics and other ailments can donate their eyes, she added.
Adyar Assistant Commissioner of Police Nelson and. Sudha, Director, Dr Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals also participated in this event.
