Eye Donation and Corneal Transplantation in India

Syllabus: Prelims Unit V - Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

Current Situation

• Annual requirement: 100,000 corneal transplants.
• Current fulfillment: Only 30% of the needs met.
• Acute shortage despite millions pledging donations.
• Second major cause of blindness in India (age 50+).
• Primary cause of blindness in the younger population.

Scale of the Problem

• 1.2 million people affected by corneal opacities.
• One-third of cases treatable through transplant.
• India has the largest population with corneal blindness.
• Most cases are preventable or treatable.
• Corneal transplant: The most common transplant globally.

Infrastructure Requirements

• Current eye banks: 12-14 high-functioning units.
• Required eye banks: 50 high-functioning units.
• Surgeons needed: 500 active corneal surgeons.
• Average annual surgeries needed per surgeon: 200.
• Cornea retrieval time constraint: Within 8-10 hours after death.

Donation Approaches

Presumed Consent

• Automatic opt-in unless explicitly declined.
• Eliminates permission delays.
• Reduces procedural complications.
• No next-of-kin approval required.

Required Request Model

• Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme (HCRP).
• Based on explicit kin consent.
• Involves grief counseling.
• Proven successful globally (Spain, US, Portugal).
• LVPEI success: 140,000 corneas in 35 years.

Success Stories

• No waiting lists in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.
• LVPEI: Over 50,000 corneal transplants performed.
• 70% of donations through HCRP.
• Positive psychological impact on donor families.