What is Eye donation?
Contrary to common belief, eye donation does not involve donation of the entire eye. Only the cornea is donated and one cornea may serve to help up to eight persons recover their sight. As the eye itself is not removed this does not cause any disfigurement.
What is Cornea?
Cornea is the glass like coverring over the pupil of the eye.
Why does the cornea get damaged?
The cornea usually gets damaged because of infections or injuries of the eye or poor nutrition, especially in childhood.
How can eyesight be restored?
Persons who have lost their sight because of damage to the cornea can hope to regain it with corneal grafting (keratoplasty).
Are there any synthetic substitutes for the cornea?
So far no substitutes have been developed for the cornea.
Who can pledge his/her eyes for donation?
Any person can pledge to donate his/her eyes without consideration of age, sex or social status. Those who wear glasses, have had a successful eye surgery or suffer from some systemic disease, can also pledge to donate their eyes.
Are any costs involved in eye donation?
No fees are charged from the family. The Eye bank send its team to the donor's home after information is received about the death of the donor. This is a free service in the public interest.
Can the cornea be removed at home?
The eyes can be removed at home / hospital / mortuary / any other place where the body is kept after death within 6-8 hrs., after which the tissue becomes inoperable.
Does the recipient have to pay for the eye that is used for grafting?
No the Service are absolutely free Donated eyes are never bought or sold.
What are the moral and religious views on eye donation?
Religious leaders throughout the world have voiced their support for eye donation as an expression of the highest humanitarian ideas.
How to contact?
Contact M.P. Birla Eye Bank
8th Floor, Maruti Building, 12, Dr. U. N. Brahmachar i St., (formerly Loudon St.), Kol - 700 017
Phone: 9831810101, 9748401651
website: www.birlaeye.org
email: eyebank@birlaeye.org
How to Donate
For Donors
- Fill the enclosed pledge form and register your intention of donating your eyes. Though this step is not necessary, it is useful to declare your commitment.
- We will give you the Donor Certificate. Preserve it carefully, it will serve as a long-term reminder for everyone.
- Discuss your intention of eye donation with your family doctor and relatives.
- Declare your intention to donate your eyes in your will.
For Relatives
- Call us at 9831810101, 9748401651
- Switch off fans (keep AC on) and pleace wet cotton/cloth over the closed eyelids. It will help keep the eyeballs moist.
- Raise haed with a pillow.
- Please note that a blood sample is collected from the donor to check for AIDS, Hepatitis etc.
- Keep the death certificate ready.
Corneal Transplantation
1. Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP)
Involves replacing an eye's scarred, diseased or damaged cornea with clear corneal donor tissues, where the full thickness of cornea is replaced.
2. Therapeutic Keratoplasty (TKP)
Involves replacing an infected cornea of the patient with a full thickness cornea collected from eye donation.
3. Deep Lamellar Keratoplasty (DLK)
This is a more advanced form of corneal transplantation that preserved the patient's posterior cornea and replaces only the diseased or scarred anterior portion of the cornea, Advantage is reduced rejection rate.
4. Descemets Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK)
Is a newer form of cornea transplant technique that replaces only the damaged cell layer at the back of the cornea instead of replacing the entire thickness of the cornea. Its leads to faster recovery and a less chance of rejection.
5. Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)
This procedure can be performed with a microkeratome , which is a sharp motor driven blade Visual quality is better than manual dissection.
6. Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
Is the newest form of corneal transplantation where only the damaged Descemet membrane and endothelium of patient is replaced by a similar donar tissue.
Our Cornea Services
Specialized Clinics
- Infection Management
- Ocular Surface Disease - Chemical Burns etc.
- Corneal Ectatic Disorders - Keratoconus, Post LASIK ectasia
- Contact Lens Clinic - Specialised situation like keratoconus, PMCD, Stephen Johnsons Syndrome
- Management of Ocular Tramua
Diagnostic Facilities
- Microbiology Laboratory with Molecular diagnostic (PCR) facility
- Cornel Topography-Placido-based(TMS-4) Pentacam
- Specular Microscopy
- Anterior segment HRT
Surgical Services
- Corneal Transplant Services (PKP), (TKP), (DLK), (DSEK), (DSAEK), (DMEK)
- Refractive eoor Corrections (Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism) - Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), -Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using Wavelight ALLEGRETTO EXCIMER LASER 500 & one use plus moria microkeratome for SBK;
- Phakic IOL -Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) - EPCL (Monofocal Implantable Phakic Contact Lens, providing superior vision for myopic and hyperopic patients)
- Corneal Scar Management -Photo-Therapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) -Automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK)
- Corneal ectasia Management (CXL) - Corneal collagen cross Linking to prevent Progression of ectasia-INTACS (Intra Corneal RING segments)
- Combined procedure - CXL with INTACS - CXL with PRK
- Ocular Surface Reconstruction - Amniotic Membrane Grafting - Limbal Stem Cell Transplant - Mucus Membrane Grafting
