The National Eye Donation Fortnight Day is celebrated from 25th August to 8th September. The day aims to raise awareness about eye donation in India and to encourage people to take a closer look at the underprivileged.
All we need to know about eye donation:
- Eye donation is donating one’s eyes after his/her death.
- Only corneal blind people are benefitted from donated eyes.
- Corneal blindness is the loss of sight due to damage in the tissue covering the front of eye called cornea.
- Anyone can donate their eyes irrespective of age, sex and blood group.
- The cornea should be removed within an hour of death.
- Eyes of donated person can save the vision of two corneal blind people.
- Eye removal takes only 10-15 minutes and leaves no scar or disfigurement of the face.
- Donated eyes are never bought or sold. Eye donation is never refused.
- Contact the eye bank to become a registered eye donor.
In case of a person’s death; what are the instruction that people around can follow?
- Close the eyelids of the donor
- Switch off the fan; you can switch on the air -conditioner
- Raise the head of the deceased slightly by placing a pillow underneath
- Contact the nearest eye bank at 1919 as quickly as possible