Eye donation. Dr. Aparna Patil.

 

Give the gift of vision ,A new experience to the blind !!

Eyes....one of the most important sensory organ in our body !

Just to give you brief idea about anatomy of an eye..

Structure of an Eye.
(Photo- Google)

As seen in the figure, cornea is the transparent structure which covers the iris & pupil. This part of the eye is important in eye donation.

In India, we have around 1.5 crore blind people ; of whom around 50 lakhs are blind because of opaque cornea.

Cornea can get injured because of many reasons like....

Chemical burns

Foreign body

Fire crackers

Vitamin A deficiency

Ophthalmic surgeon, from Sangali, Dr. Dilip Patwardhan has explained this in very simple way...the transparent, good windshield of defective car is placed in good car with bad, opaque windshield.

Friends, give the gift of vision..

Who can donate eyes?

Age is no bar.All from 1 year to 80 years old can donate.People with diabetes, previous cataract surgery, with spectacles can also donate.

Who can't donate ?

Eye donation is contraindicated in patients with..

Hepatitis

Jaundice

Tuberculosis

Brain tumor

Meningitis

Active septicemia

How can one help this Noble act?

Friends... discuss your wish for eye donation with your near & dear ones. If the dead person has never mentioned his wish , still the nearby relatives can give consent for donation.All religions have considered this as the noble act.

Some simple steps...

1) Contact eye bank number 1919.

2) Keep two xerox copies of death certificate ready.

3) Cover eyes with cotton soaked in water.

4) Put off the fan ; if possible, switch on the air conditioner.

5) Keep head elevated by keeping two pillows underneath head.

Most important to know that,  eyes  donation is  permitted  within 6 hours of death.

The medical team from an eye bank usually take maximum 20 to 39 minutes. There is no disfigurement of face , also no bleeding.

Friends, just imagine, how helpless, depressed you will feel...if there is sudden loss of your eyesight ! Complete darkness around you ! Not able to enjoy the beautiful world around you! Eyes are the precious gift to mankind. A wise man utilizes the gift while alive & even after death.

Let's all pledge to donate our eyes & other organs ! Let's leave back our vision !

©Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness

Mumbai.