Gujarat faces shortfall in eye donations amid rising blindness cases
Updated: Aug 26th, 2024
A significant gap exists between the need for eye donations and the number received in India, leading to a critical shortage of corneas for transplants. This crisis is particularly acute in cases of pupil disease, which is a leading cause of blindness in the country.
According to government data, India requires approximately 2 lakh eyes annually, but only about 70,000 are donated on an average. Even among these, a substantial portion is not suitable for pupil transplants. Gujarat, while having a higher donation rate than the national average, still faces a shortfall.
While Gujarat has made progress in reducing its blindness rate from 0.9% to 0.3%, the state still faces challenges in meeting the growing demand for eye donations. Between 2019 and July 2024, approximately 27,000 donations were made in Gujarat. However, for the current financial year, only 2,104 donations have been completed by July, including 480 pupil transplants.
Dr Ashish Bhojke, vice president of Ahmedabad Ophthalmological Society, stressed the importance of increasing awareness about eye donation. He noted that modern technology allows a single donation to benefit multiple individuals through various transplant procedures.
The 'National Eye Donation Fortnight' observed from August 25 to September 8 aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for more donations. Experts emphasise that a single eye donation can now restore vision in three to four individuals through advanced transplant techniques.
Pupil disease, caused by factors like injuries, infections, malnutrition, and congenital defects, is responsible for 7.4% of blindness cases in India. The number of people affected by this condition is on the rise, with 11 lakh individuals currently blind and 20,000 new cases added each year.
A common misconception is that individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of cataract surgery cannot donate their eyes. However, this is not the case, except in specific circumstances such as eye injuries from accidents, Alzheimer's disease, or infections that render the eyes unsuitable.
By raising awareness and encouraging more people to donate their eyes, India can make significant strides in combating blindness and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
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