Most blind could gain vision if more people donated: Civil Surgeon

National Eye Donation Fortnight is being observed by the District Health Department. Activities under this intiative began on August 25 and shall go on till September 8. Giving information, Jalandhar Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Gurmeet Lal said the main objective of the fortnight was to spread awareness about the importance of eye donation.

He said during the fortnight, people will be motivated to sign eye donation consent forms. For interested persons, these forms are available with government health institutions, he said. To this end, an awareness pamphlet was released today.

Dr Lal said that lakhs in India were blind and most of them could gain vision through donated eyes but it was a matter of regret that the number of eye donors in our country was dismal.

He said eyes were a vital part of the human body and must be checked once every six months. He urged the residents of the district to come forward and contribute in the eye donation campaign and also motivate their kin and friends towards this noble cause. It is worth mentioning that free iris replacement surgeries are performed in government hospitals across Punjab.

Dr Gurpreet Kaur, SMO Eye Mobile Unit, said corneal blindness had a straightforward cure and just needed replacing the cornea. She said, following the death of an individual, their eyes could be utilised to gift vision to the blind through safe surgical procedures.

The CS said the decision to donate eyes could be made before death. Eyes must be removed within four to six hours after death.

Anyone can donate eyes, regardless of the person’s age, whether they wear spectacles, have got an eye surgery done or wear lenses. However, people suffering from AIDS, jaundice, blood cancer and brain fever must not donate eyes. To take care of the eyes on death, the fan of the room should be turned off and a wet and clean cloth should be kept on the eyes till the eye bank team arrives.