India Needs Four Times More Eye Donors to Support the Annual Demand for 1 Lakh Corneal Transplantations

- Vinod Kumar, Health Reporter

New Delhi. Blindness is a major cause of concern around the world today. In India, an estimated 20 lakh people suffer from blindness caused by damages to the cornea, the clear transparent outer layer of the eye. More than a quarter of the cases of corneal blindness can be resolved if transplantations are done without delay. Just like any other body organ, the cornea of the eye can also be donated after death. “With tens of thousands of corneal blindness cases being added every year to the existing burden, the annual demand for corneal transplantations is on the rise and to meet this dearth, the public needs to be educated on eye donation.

An eye donor can belong to any sex or age. However, there are a few diseases which can restrict the donation of the eyes like AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, Rabies, Septicaemia, Acute leukemia (Blood cancer), Tetanus, Cholera, and infectious diseases like Meningitis and Encephalitis.

Few points for public awareness in relation to eye donation.

 Eyes can be donated only after death.

• Eyes must be removed within 4 - 6 hours after death.
• Eyes can be removed by a registered medical practitioner only.
• The eye bank team will visit the home of the deceased or the hospital to remove the eyes.
• Eye removal does not delay the funeral since the entire procedure takes 20-30 minutes only.
• A small quantity of blood will be drawn to rule out communicable diseases.
• Eye retrieval does not cause disfigurement.
• The identities of both the donor and the recipient are kept confidential.
• In relation to eye pledge and eye collection procedures, the eye donation of the deceased has to be authorized by the next of kin even if the deceased has pledged his or her eyes.
• Use of spectacles for short sightedness, long sightedness or astigmatism or even those operated for cataract is also not a contraindication.

Enucleation of the Eyes

Eyes are to be enucleated preferably within six to eight hours of death. After enucleation the eyes are sent to eye banks for evaluation and further distribution. The eyes are evaluated by trained technicians as per the international standards. The deserving blind patients are called in accordance with the waiting list. Even emergency cases are dealt with in conformity with the guidelines prescribed.

 

Importance of Eye Donation 

On the importance of eye donation, Dr. Nita Shah says, “Due to the little or no awareness, social or religious reservations, and various other reasons eye donation is yet to get its due importance in our country. Various misunderstandings and misbeliefs act as a roadblock for this noble deed.”

 

She further adds, “Today the number of eye donations made is only about 50,000 per year in India - in other words, eyes are collected only from less than 0.5% of about 1 crore people who die in the country in a year. Therefore, awareness must be created about eye donation. Also, infrastructure such as eye banks and research centers must be increased to facilitate more eye donations.” At times when eye donations cannot be used for transplantation, they are forwarded for research and education. Whole eye research has led to advancements in the understanding of the cause and effects of conditions such as glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders. 

EXPERTS STRESS ON TRAINING BYSTANDERS AND ROADSIDE FACILITIES ON HIGHWAYS

- Vinod Kumar, Health Reporter 

CALL TO STRENGTHEN TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM AT HIGHWAYS AND HOSPITALS AND BETTER COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES WORKING ON ROAD SAFETY

EXPERTS STRESS ON TRAINING BYSTANDERS AND ROADSIDE FACILITIES ON HIGHWAYS INCLUDING DHABHA OWNERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS IN PROVIDING FIRST AID TO ACCIDENT VICTIMS

New Delhi. Absence of a coordinated trauma services by various related agencies including concerned  ministries is resulting in avoidable deaths and long term disabilities  in about 4.67 lakh road accidents in the country each year .There is a strong need for strengthening trauma care system in the country to avoid these tragedies 

"During the year 2020 about 1.3 lakh persons died in the country due to road accidents, which were mostly preventable had the country had committed trauma care services as in most of the developed countries  . In India better coordinated preventive measures are needed including enhanced trauma services, and capacity building for pre hospital trauma care on the national highways and coming up expressways " said Dr Sunil Kumar , Director General, Health Services, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MH&FW) while speaking at a webinar on ‘Strengthening Emergency care system  along the National Highways and Expressways a national priority, organised by International Road Federation -India Chapter (IRF-IC) here late last evening.

" Apart from creating trauma care facilities on National Highways an expressways a lots need to be done for capacity building to provide pre hospital trauma care including revision of the Emergency Medical Services  (EMS) Act which at present is not specific .  there is no proper formulation offered by the government, which makes the life of its citizens more valuable. The education system also needs to be changed for emergency vcare and which is acceptable world wide . The ambulance code is also needed in the country with accountability fo ambulance drivers and owners . Aabove all a white paper needs to be brought our on availability of trauma services on highways “ said Dr Kumar

"MoRTH as part of its effort to improve  trauma service on National Highways has provided an ambulance, first aid service an one crane on every toll plazas .Provisions of this is also in the concessionaire agreement to provide these provisions but National Highways are only about Two per cent of the total road network in the country. Recent survey at various highways has found inadequate trauma care services especially in rural areas  " said Dr Amit Gupta,Professor at JPN-AIIMS Trauma centre while speaking at the webinar .

 “It is important to infuse knowledge of road safety and first aid among public and also in road side facilities such as dhabas and among truck drivers, who are most often the first to reach accident sites. The Government on its part provides free hospital care to accident victims but more needs to be done ,” said Dr Subodh Kumar, Professor at AIIMS , Delhi .

“Most of road accident deaths are avoidable with preventable measures including better trauma services , giving way to ambulances and availability of ambulances during golden hour . About 30 per cent road accident victims die after being discharged from hospitals, this needs to be taken care by rehabilitating them " Dr Arun Mohan, Eminent Lawyer o Supreme court.

“The increase in road accidents comes amid growing concerns that significant proportions of victims of road accidents in the country do not receive timely and appropriate medical care and do not even have ambulances for transport to hospitals. Given the shortages of ambulances, trained staff, infrastructure, systems and processes for providing emergency response services within the golden hour, the provision of first aid and trauma care to accident victims is often unduly delayed. The results of these delays reflect in higher traffic accident fatality rates, especially in low-income countries. These fatality rates can be reduced if appropriate and prompt first aid and trauma care is provided at the accident site itself" said Mr k .K Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF) speaking at the webinar .

“Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) should include an estimated fund for training of bystanders , truck and bus drivers for First Aid and Trauma care as they are the first ones to witness the road accident .Any Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) or Hybrid project under MoRTH or NHAi as part of the Concession Agreement should include that the Concessionaire will train Bystanders along the road stretches under their project” he added