The most precious gift

Gifting the visually challenged with eyesight is indeed one of the most noble acts one can perform. As one slogan goes, "Netra Daan Sarva Shreshta Daan". There are several visually challenged persons suffering from corneal blindness, who need someone to donate their cornea after death, so that he can see this beautiful creation of God. Gifting the less fortunate amongst us may certainly be something one would want to do, but even though we are so educated, we may not know several aspects of eye donations. For example, we may be unaware about how to go about it or have some wrong notions that we cannot donate because we have had a cataract operation!

One would be surprised to note that even a cancer patient or one who has undergone a cataract operation can indeed donate corneas for this noble cause! There are several wrong notions, religious misbeliefs, unwarranted concerns about the act of donating one's eyes, due to which make the waitlisted patients suffer longer. It is therefore necessary to learn all about it from authentic sources, so that one can opt to make this world a better place to live in.

Do read the FAQs provided by the Eye Bank Research Coordination Centre here.

Another weblink providing a good deal of information is available here.

The Eye Bank Research Coordination Centre works with several other eye banks to ensure that willing donors are tapped within 2-6 hours of the occurence of death and a team of doctors are sent expeditiously to retreive the cornea and transplant it as a gift of vision to the unknown recipients on the wait-list. It is a practice to give one cornea each to two separate recipients so that more persons can see, albeit with vision in one eye.

So if one is convinced about eye donation, do read what you need to do here.

It is quite natural for people in the midst of grief to forget this aspect altogether and it is really awkward to discuss with people about their decision in case they would like to donate eyes in the time of grief, but doctors, social workers and close relatives are encouraged to gently remind close relatives of the deceased to act expeditiously if they are already convinced about the idea. Remember, once time is elapsed, the cornea are of no use unless extracted timely!

Do ensure that you have the contact details of the closest Eye Donation Centre and NGOs working in your area so that you need not miss an opportunity to give the last gift - the blessings to have someone seeing this world, while your near and dear one has departed for his heavenly abode.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO IF ONE WANTS TO DONATE EYES

1. Get the valid death certificate quickly.

2. Contact the eye bank as soon as possible.

3. Close the eyelids and cover it with moist cotton and keep it moist till the eye bank team arrives

4. Switch off the fan (Switch on the air conditioner if possible).

5. Raise the donor's head by 6 inches by placing two pillows under it.

6. Keep the consent of the family members of the deceased donor ready, as it is mandatory

This post has been inspired by the recent act of donation by my cousin's family when my maternal uncle, Mr. Mangesh V Madiman, expired on 14th Jan 2010. The death announcement insert in TOI says it all.


This noble act will enable 2 unknown recipients to see this lovely world that we live in. For a family who has been actively propagating the idea of Eye Donations through several articles and religious forums, this noble act was just what I expected. I do hope the message is passed on to one and all and that more and more people follow this trend and the wait-list for corneas is a thing of the past!

May his soul rest in peace!