National Eye Donation Fortnight August 25 - September 8, 2023

National eye donation fortnight has been observed annually between August 25th to September 8th throughout the country for the last 38 years in India to raise awareness about the importance of eye donation and debunk the myths surrounding it. On this day, various local and central organisations come together to encourage and educate people to donate their eyes, have a lasting impact beyond their lifetime and provide a gift of vision for people in need.

Importance of National Eye Donation Fortnight

Vision plays a pivotal role in day-to-day activities in addition to the provision of worldly aesthetics. However, many are not fortunate enough to experience such, such as the presence of chronic diseases or visual impairments or injuries (traumatic and exposure related) , which led many to dive into the world of darkness. An eye donation from a kind donor can only help them in providing the gift of vision.



Eye donation involves a corneal transplant. As per a 2022 research report, the first successful corneal transplant was performed in 1905, and the first eye bank was founded in 1944. In India, organ donation (that includes corneal) is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act. As per World Health Organization estimation, for every five seconds, someone is affected by blindness, which is deeply concerning given that 80% of all cases of visual impairment are treatable or preventable.

As per a 2020 research study, globally, 4.33 crore (female:2.39 crore) are estimated to be blind. The study estimated 29.5 crores (female:16.3 crore) and of people are suffering from moderate and severe vision impairment, 25.8 crores (female:14.2 crore) with mild vision impairment and 51 crore people have visual impairment from uncorrected presbyopia. Despite the peak numbers, another 2022 global research reported that one cornea for every 70 corneal recipients is available on conducting a global survey on eye banking and corneal transplantation was conducted. This depicts the need for more voluntary eye donors to fill the lacune.

In India, it is estimated that 2,70,000 donor eyes, a fourfold increase over present donor eye availability, will be required to conduct 1,00,000 corneal transplants per year. However, eye donation has yet to get its proper importance due to a lack of awareness, societal or religious reserves, etc. To fulfil the need, the National Eye Donation Fortnight step forward to untie eye banks, eye donation centres and eye bank training centres from all over the states to provide public awareness about the importance of eye donation and encourage individuals to pledge their eyes after death.

History of National Eye Donation Fortnight

National eye donation fortnight was established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) of the government of India in 1985. Since then, every year, the government of India has conducted awareness campaigns to promote the importance of pledging an eye donation.

Facts of Eye Donation 

• Anyone with a cataract, long/short-sightedness, operated eyes, or common ailments, regardless of age, gender, religion, or blood group, can donate their eyes.
• Corneal blindness can be treated by replacing the damaged cornea with the donated one (healthy)
• Within six hours of the person's death, the cornea should be removed.
• One kind donor can gift vision to two corneal blind persons.
• The total time for the procedure is 15–20 minutes.
• Donor and receiver information will be kept confidential.
• Government and NGOs provide free of costs facilities for eye donation.

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