National Fortnight on Eye Donation is being observed all over the country Chandigarh
National Fortnight on Eye Donation

National Fortnight on Eye Donation is being observed all over the country Chandigarh

National Fortnight on Eye Donation is being observed all over the country Chandigarh

On the occasion of National Eye Donation Awareness Fortnight from 25th Aug to 8th September 2022, the Eye Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, GMCH, Chandigarh, organized an Eye Donation Awareness talk on 06th September 2022 in Boys Hostel No 5 (Lajpar Rai Hall) of Panjab University Chandigarh.
            Dr. J. S. Sehrawat, Warden Hostel no. 5, welcomed Dr. Sudesh Kumar Arya, Prof and Incharge Eye Bank, GMCH-32 Chandigarh. Dr. Arya told that in India there are 15 million blind out of total 45 million blind in the world. There are approximately 30 lakhs corneal blind persons in the country and 2 lakhs are bilaterally blind. Every year approximately 25,000 to 30,000 eyes are collected as against the target requirement of 1 lakh per year by Govt. of India to redress the problem, at least, up to certain extent. Hence to highlight this fact and to intensify educational and motivational efforts, a “National Fortnight on Eye Donation” is being observed all over the country from 25th August to 8th September every year.
            Dr. Arya highlighted the importance of eye donation and appealed everyone for pledging for eye donation for decreasing corneal blindness in the country. He told the students about procedure of eye donation. Any person irrespective of his age, sex, social or religious status can pledge and donate his eyes. Persons wearing glasses or undergone any type of eye surgery can donate their eyes. Eyes should be donated within 6 hours after death. Patients having diabetes or hypertension or any systemic diseases can also donate their eyes. There is no disfigurement due to donation as only cornea is removed from dead body and which is replaced by artificial plastic cornea. There is no funeral delay due to eye donation because eye donation process takes only 10-15 minutes only. There is no need for the dead body to be brought to hospital for eye donation. Eye bank team comes to the place of eye donation. There is no money charged from the blind person receiving the cornea and surgery too is done free of cost. All the religions promote eye donation.
            Dr. Arya explained some myths and taboos about eye donation prevalent among the society. Some people think that they will be born blind in their next birth if they donate their eyes after death. This is myth in the minds of people without any logic. Some people think that if the cremation is done after eyes are donated, then they will not go to heaven. This is again myth only. One eye donation can give eye sight to at least 4 persons. Dr. Arya told that anyone willing for pledging or donating the eyes can contact at Eye Bank GMCH mobile no 9814821212.
            Significant number of audience pledged to their eyes and filled the forms; on the spot, eye donor cards were issued to such students. Dr. Sehrawat, Warden of the hostel, thanked all the participants to grace the event.


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