Eye Donation in Chennai

Eye banks play a vital role to retrieve eyes. These banks store eyes for corneal implants and for research purposes.
The main purpose of such banks is to treat any degenerative disorder of the eyes.

It is done with the help of tissues (for implants) or white of the eye (sclera).

Procedure followed by Eye Banks

Every bank follows a protocol to obtain the tissue or the organ from the deceased person:

• Consent is taken either from the donor registry or from donor’s next of kin.
  
• A recovery technician is then sent to recover the eyes from the body.
  
• The entire eye or globe is removed with the help of surgery or only the cornea is cut out in-situ and stored.
  
• The tissue is then sent to banks for further processing.
  

Key Factors on which Transplantation depends

Key Factors on which transplantation depends are as follows:

1. Quality:
   The main factor on which transplantation depends is Quality of the Cornea.
   
   
2. Good Condition:
   The cornea of the deceased has to be in good condition and fit for transplant.That is why apart from tissue checking, blood testing is also done.
   
   
3. Blood Sample:
   Sample of the donor is taken to make sure that he/she does not suffer from any infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or any other illness.
   
   
4. Preservation:
   Once the blood type is tested, the tissue or the cornea (blood test is not necessary for cornea transplantation since corneas do not get any blood supply) are preserved in container containing preservation medium.
   
   
5. Examination:
   They are further evaluated and examined for further use.

Process of Eye Donation in Chennai Eye Banks:

There are several eye banks in Chennai which help people to restore sight with the help of cornea transplantation. Many campaigns are held to spread awareness among people to donate eyes.

1. Pledge:
   To donate eyes a person first has to take a pledge for eye donation. After which an eye pledge from has to be filled, mentioning ones correct contact details and address. 
2. The form has to be signed by 1 or 2 witness; it can either be ones family or friends.
   
   
3. Donor Card:
   Once the form is completed and submitted to the eye bank, a donor card with contact details of the eye bank is issued.
   
   
4. Donation:
   At the time of the donors death, the witness or any other family member who knows that the deceased person wanted to donate his/her eyes should contact the eye bank mentioned on the donor’s card within 6 hours of the death.

Few things should be kept in mind by other members after the death of the donor:

• Fans and AC should be switched off.
  
  
• The eye lids of the donor should be closed gently and moist cotton should be kept over the eyes.
  
  
• The level of the head should be raised by few inches so as to reduce the chances of bleeding at the time of recovery.

Things to Remember:

• There is no age bar for eye donation.
  
  
• Any person with cataract or spectacles can donate eyes.
  
  
• Even people suffering from hypertension and diabetes can take the pledge. The final decision of using the eye depends on various tests.

There are many eye banks in Chennai which are run by non-governmental organization and government sector. Sankara Nethralaya, Chennailions Eye Bank Trust, Rotary Rajan Eye Bank Clinic and CU Shah Eye Bank are some well known eye banks in Chennai among many others. The main motto of every eye bank is to help recipients see the world again.