Important Quick Facts about Eye Donation
- Eyes can be donated only after death of a person.
- Eyes can be donated even if the deceased has not formally pledged his or her eyes.
- Anyone can donate eyes irrespective of age, gender, blood group or religion.
- Person who wears spectacles can also donate his/her eyes.
- People with the history of hypertension and diabetes can also donate.
- Eyes must be removed within 6 to 8 hours of death.
- Eyes can only be removed by a registered medical practitioner.
- Eye donation gives sight to two blind persons. One cornea is grafted to one person.
- The identities of both the donor and the recipient are kept confidential.
- The eye bank itself will send a doctor to the donor’s home. No fee is charged for this service.
- Eye removal procedure takes only about 20-30 minutes and hence does not delay the funeral.
- On reaching the eye bank, the corneas are examined, treated and used for corneal transplant within 36 hours.
- The cornea is used for transplantation to the patient’s
- eye by a trained corneal surgeon.
- Donated eyes are never sold or bought.
- An eye donation is never refused