About Our Eye Bank
Being the World's largest eye care hospital network, we promote and support eye donation through our advanced eye bank service, which is strengthened by our experience of over 60 years in providing the best in eye care. This is the largest eye bank chain in South India and functions at 6 eye banks across 60 eye collection centres. With Vasan, you can ensure world-class services with care, anywhere, anytime.
Join Vasan Eye Bank in this noble act of donating eyes.
Join the Movement of
" EYE DONATION "
Become our " Sight Ambassador "
Questions & Answers about Eye Donation
(Click on the questions to view the answers)
What is Eye Donation?
HIDE
A corneal blind person can see again through a surgical procedure known as corneal transplantation, where by the damaged cornea is replaced by a healthy cornea from a deceased person. This cornea is donated by patients or relatives after death of the patient.
How much we progressed in eye donation?
SHOW
Only 13,500 operations are being performed every year, while 30,000 new victims are added each year to the long list of 9 Lakh patients already waiting to be cured although there are enough qualified surgeons and plenty of potential patients, corneal transplantation cannot be carried out due to lack of donor corneas. There are more than 80 Lakh deaths every year, but sadly the corneal donations do not exceed a 30 thousand.
Is the whole eye used for the transplant?
SHOW
No, only the cornea is used for the transplant.
What is cornea?
SHOW
The cornea is the front, outermost layer of the eye. Just as window lets light into a room, the cornea lets light into the eye. It also focuses the light passing through to make images clear and sharp.
What is corneal blindness?
SHOW
Light passes through the cornea helping a person to see. Sometimes the cornea becomes opaque(cloudy) or loses its transparency following trauma, infection, or other disease. A person with an opaque cornea cannot see. This condition is known as corneal blindness.
Who can be an eye donor?
SHOW
- People of any age and either sex can donate eyes.
- People who use spectacles for short sightedness, long sightedness, or astigmatism or even those operated for cataract can still donate, as these conditions may not affect the cornea.
- Patients who are suffering from diabetes hypertension, asthma and those without communicate diseases can also donate eyes.
- Persons who were infected with or have died from AIDS, hepatitis B or C, rabies, septicemia, acute leukemia, tetanus, cholera, meningitis or encephalitis cannot donate eyes.
HOWEVER, THE CONSENT OF THE NEXT OF KIN IS ESSENTIAL FOR REMOVING THE EYE AFTER THE DONORS DEATH.
Why should eyes be donated?
SHOW
There is no substitute for human tissue. The transplantation process depends upon the priceless gift of corneal donation from one human to the other.
How quick should corneas be removed after death?
SHOW
Corneas should be removed preferably within an hour but can be removed up to a maximum of 6-8 hours of death.
Is it necessary to take donor to the hospital?
SHOW
No, the eye bank team will go to the donor's residence or the hospital where the death has occurred and perform the corneal excision.
Does eye donation disfigure the face?
SHOW
No, removal of the cornea does not cause any disfigurement. The eyeball remains intact. After the cornea is removed a transparent eye cap is placed in the eye in place of the removed cornea. At times the whole eye may be removed, but it will not disfigure the face.
What should you do to preserve eyes after death ?
SHOW
- Close the eyes of the deceased and place moist cotton over them
- Fans should be switched off
- Inform the eye bank immediately - 044 - 43400000
Will the donor family receive any money ?
SHOW
No, it is illegal to buy or sell human eyes, organs or tissues. The entire cost of cornea retrieval is borne by eye bank
What happens after eye donation ?
SHOW
- Tests are carried out and the report is sent to the corneal surgeon
- The eyes are used for a corneal transplantation within 72 hours, but with Present day availability of special storage media the eyes can be stored for a longer time before being transplanted.
- The recipient is chosen from the eye banks waiting list and called for a corneal transplant.
How do pledge your eyes ?
SHOW
- Anybody can pledge to donate their eyes
- Write or call the eye bank for a pledge card
- Sign and send the pledge card to the eye bank
- The eye bank will sent you a donor and companion card
- Carry the donor card always with you and give the companion card to your next-of-kin
Do religious authorities approve of eye donation ?
SHOW
Yes, all religious faiths Hindu, Muslim & Christians. Support this vital sight restoration program.