Press Note on Eye Donation Fortnight

Visakhapatnam, August 24, 2006

Visakhapatnam Eye Bank and Research Training Trust

The cornea of the eye is like the transparent wrist watch glass in the front portion of the eye, which allows the light and focus the image of the objects on the the Retina that ultimately helps in the vision. When this cornea turns opaque due to certain diseases, burns (Heat, chemicals or due to scarifications following injuries) it can no longer allow the light to enter the otherwise normally functioning eye and thus leading to blindness. The only solution to give back vision the these unfortunate people is to transplant cornea, the opaque cornea with the normal healthy cornea donated by persons after their deaths.

There are 2 million such corneal blind people in our country out of which 60% are below the age of 12 years. Last year total corneas collected in our country are 20514 through 404 Eye Banks / Eye Donations Centers. Out of 20514 corneas 8426 corneas are used for corneal transplantations. Every year 20000 blind people are added to blind population. The existing 10 eye banks (that have collected 50% of total eye collections in India are located in metropolitan centers) are able to conduct transplantation in an year leaving a huge back log of corneal blind population. The eye banks situated in semi-urban and rural areas also contributed 44% of total cornea collection.

There are thousands of Corneally Blind Patients in this region of North Costal Andhra Pradesh and neighboring States of Orissa and Chatisghad, Hitherto corneally blind persons in this region have to necessarily go to Chennai, Hyderabad etc. incurring much financial burden and physical strain.

Presently corneal transplantation facilities are available locally and there are many deaths natural and accident wise.

The Mohsin Eye Bank was started 4 ½ years ago by four experienced senior Ophthalmologists and six service oriented persons of this city through VEBART TRUST(Regd.No. 74/2001) realizing the huge need of cornea that can be donated only by dead persons with the consent of kith and kin after the death. The Eye Bank and Trust could create awareness in all sections of people and able to help the corneally blind persons to regain vision through transplantations. There are deaths, but there is acute shortage of donor eyes. To bridge the gap, Mohsin Eye Bank was started and the performance is as follows

1.Total corneas collected 372
2.Helped to restore vision in 223 corneally blind persons
3.Public awareness through
1) Audiovisual Programmes - 171
2) Stalls & Kiosks in Exhibition etc - 50
3) General eye care programmes - 21
4) Eye specialists & General physicians – Training & awareness programmes – 2
5) Workshop to ophthalmologists & Hospital Administrators – 2
6) Friends of eye bank (Members) - 627
7) Entered into an MOU with Hospitals - KGH, APOLLO, CARE, Apoorva and Queen NRI.

Every year from 25th August to 8th September Eye Donation Fortnight is being observed through out India. On 8th September 2006 Eye Donation Day to be observed with the participation of public, Medical and paramedical personnel, voluntary organisations and MEDIA persons.

As part of “Eye Donation Fortnight” from 25th August to 7th September 2006 we will conduct Seminars and quiz programmes at Andhra Medical College, Regional Eye Hospital and Audiovisual Programmes, kiosks at various places, beach rally and distribute Cinema slides in Visakhapatnam District etc.

We need your help and co-operation for propagation of Eye Donation campaign as many people do not know the existence of eye bank and process of eye donation etc.

Here with enclosed 25th and 28th August, 2006 programmes invitations and broachers for your first hand information, please publish in your News paper or play your channel and participate in this noble cause in restoration of vision to the Corneal Blind People.

With regards,
Yours faithfully

Mr.A.Sriramamurthy
Trustee & Chairman, Eye Donation Fortnight

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