Eyes donation : only after death

Many people have a myth about eye donation. Please notice Eyes are donated only after death and only upper layer called Cornea is donated not whole eyeball.

Eye donation is a deed of gifting a life with light.

There are millions of people who are blind or going blind because of many unfortunate events like accidents, injuries, infections, diseases. Out of these million peoples, unfortunately more than 50% are children’s with in age group of 0-14 years.

But Person who has lost their sight because of damage to cornea can hope to regain it with eye or cornea transplant (corneal grafting).The cornea usually gets damaged because of infections or injuries of the eye or poor nutrition, especially in childhood.

Eyes or vision is a precious & ultimate gift one can get. Why to bury this after death when this can be return-gifted. So please let as pass it on to someone who does require it.

There are millions of people in queue waiting for cornea transplant, thus the demand for cornea is increasing.

One pair of eye donated can be used to give vision to Two Corneal blind people.

Any person can pledge to donate his/her eyes without consideration of age, sex or social status. Those who wear spectacles /glasses, have had a successful eye surgery or suffer from some systemic disease can also pledge to donate their eyes. Person operated for cataract can also donate cornea. Diabetic, Hypertension (BP), Asthma patients can also donate their eyes. But the persons infected with AIDS, Hepatitis B or C, acute Leukemia, cholera or rabies cannot donate eyes. When eyes donated are not suitable for transplant; these are used for medical research.

Procedure for Eye Donation :

Simply, register on our website getlifecare.com and select eye donate option. We will provide you an Eye Donation Card (virtual copy to be printed or hard copy of it by post) or Enquire about the nearest Eye Collection Centre/ Eye Bank. Contact the one nearest you (by phone or a personal visit) and they will register your pledge.

It is preferable if all members of the family pledge their eyes together. However, an individual can also pledge his/her eyes at any time in life. The eyes shall be collected only after death of the person who has pledged and/or if the close relatives give consent for the same.

The eyes of a deceased person can also be donated whether he/she has pledged his/her eyes in life or not. (Under law, relatives of the deceased can donate his/her eyes provided he/she has never spoken against eye donation.)

*Important Information for :

Donors -

Become member on our website getlifecare.com and register your intention of donating your eyes. It is useful to declare your commitment.

We will send you the Donor Card (virtual copy to be printed or hard copy of it by post). Preserve it carefully, it will serve as a long-term reminder for everyone

Discuss your intention of eye donation with your family doctor and relatives.

Declare your intention to donate your eyes in your will and declare the same with your family & relatives.

If you shift to a new home, record the address and telephone number of the new eye bank nearest to your home.

Family/Relatives -

Get the vital death certificate quickly and call the nearest eye bank for the eye collection.

Switch off fans (keep A/C on) and place wet cotton/cloth over the closed eyelids. It will help keep the eyeballs moist.

Raise head with a pillow

Please note that a blood sample is collected from the donor to check for AIDS, Hepatitis etc.

The eyes or cornea will be collected at any time in the Day or Night. Its 24 hours service by eye bank.

Neither the patient knows whose cornea is used for him, nor do the relatives of the donor know who has received the cornea. This information is strictly confidential

*Please do not ignore eye injuries and educate children’s about eye safety.
Regularly or at least once a year visit your Ophthalmologist/eye specialist doctor.

The following FAQ will help the common people to know & understand about eye donation. This will provide most of the information on eye donation & resolves the myth around eye donation.

What is Cornea?

       Cornea is the glass like covering over the pupil of the eye.

Why does the cornea get damaged?

      The cornea usually gets damaged because of infections or injuries of the eye or poor nutrition, especially in childhood.

How can eyesight be restored?

      Person who have lost their sight because of damage to cornea can hope to regain it with corneal grafting (eye or cornea transplant / keratoplasty)

Are there any synthetic substitutes for cornea?

      So far no substitutes have been developed for the cornea.

Who can pledge his/her eyes for the donation?

      Any person can pledge to donate his/her eyes without consideration of age, sex or social status. Those who wear glasses, have had a successful eye surgery or       suffer from some systemic disease, can also pledge to donate their eyes.

Are any costs involved in eye donation?

      No fees are charged from the family. The eye collection centre will rush a doctor to the donor’s home after information is received about the death of the donor.       This is a free service in the public interest.

Can the eyes be removed at home?

      The eyes can be removed at home/Hospital/Mortuary/ any other place where the body is kept after death within 6-8 hrs after which the tissue becomes less       useful for the purpose of grafting/keratoplasty/transplant.

Does the recipient have to pay for the eye that is used for grafting/transplant?

      Services by the government and voluntary sector are provided free of charge. Donated eyes are never bought or sold.

What are the moral and religious views on the eye donation?

      Religious leaders throughout the world have voiced their support for the eye donation as an expression of the highest humanitarian ideas.

Whom/How to contact?

      Contact the nearest Eye Collection Centre/ Eye Bank after the death of a person who has consent to be a donor.

* Information Source :

National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB)
(Ministry of Health & family Welfare-Ophthalmology section)
New Delhi

Click Here to Register for EYE Donation & Eye Donors ID card.