Docs conduct 10 cornea transplants in a week

Blurb: Transplants done during an awareness fortnight on eye donation

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, September 6

Doctors at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology of Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS), Rohtak, have conducted 10 cornea transplants in a week.

These transplants have been done during an awareness fortnight on eye donation, which is being observed at Rohtak PGIMS from August 25 to September 8.

Talking to The Tribune today, Dr RS Chauhan, head of the institute, said a sharp decline had been witnessed in the number of eye-donations during the pandemic. “But as a result of the awareness campaign, people have started coming forward for donating eyes. Our team has conducted 10 cornea transplants in a week,” he added.

Director of PGIMS, Dr Rohtash Yadav, appreciated the efforts of Dr Chauhan and his team. He informed that a unit of the State Organ Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) had also been set up at PGIMS to facilitate organ donations.

As per medical experts, eyes can be donated from four to six hours after a person’s death. The family members of the deceased can call up 01262-281300 or 281304 for donating the eyes of the deceased.

Photo caption: Doctors of PGIMS, Rohtak, and Regional Institute of Ophthalmology during an awareness drive on eye donation at Rohtak on Monday. Tribune photo