BHU Eye Bank Receives Only 40 Donated Corneas in Two Years as Waiting List Grows

More than 500 patients have been waiting for corneas at the IMS-BHU eye bank, while only 40 donated corneas were received over the past two years, according to figures reported during the national eye-donation fortnight. The available supply is estimated at just 8 per cent of the institution’s requirement.

The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology sees more than 250 new patients with corneal blindness who may need transplantation in an average year. Over two years, that demand exceeds 500. When donations remain low, registration continues but the queue lengthens, leaving children, adults and older patients waiting for a suitable graft.

Professor R P Maurya, chairman and head of the institute, said misconceptions still discourage donation despite awareness campaigns. BHU records show 2,351 people have pledged their eyes, but a pledge does not become a donation automatically. Family members must know the person’s wish and contact an eye bank promptly after death.

Corneal donation does not mean transplanting the entire eyeball. The cornea is the clear front layer of the eye, and it can restore vision in selected patients whose blindness is caused by corneal damage. The retrieval process is usually completed in a short time and does not prevent customary funeral arrangements.

Eligibility is broader than many families assume. Age, spectacles, diabetes or blood pressure do not automatically rule out donation, and people who have undergone eye surgery may still be suitable in some circumstances. The eye-bank team makes the medical assessment; relatives should not decide on their own that donation is impossible.

Timing is crucial. The eye bank should be informed as soon as possible after a donor’s death so trained personnel can advise the family and complete the process. A pledge card kept in a drawer is of little use if no one in the household knows about it. Discussing the decision in advance is therefore as important as registering it.

Eye Donation Fortnight runs from August 25 to September 8, with awareness programmes planned by BHU and the health department. The shortage makes the campaign urgent rather than ceremonial. Forty corneas in two years cannot meet the needs of a large regional referral centre. Closing that gap requires accurate information, family consent and a fast, dependable link between bereaved households and the eye bank.

Hospitals can support families by displaying one verified, round-the-clock contact number and explaining the process in outpatient areas. People are more likely to act during a difficult moment when the route to donation is already familiar.