For Your Eyes Only! Awareness on ‘Eye Donation’ by AJIMS&RC
On the occasion of National Eye Donation Fortnight, AJ Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre (AJIMS&RC) in association with South Kanara Ophthalmic Society (SKOS) & SAKSHAMA organized a walkathon on Friday the 2nd September 2016 to create awareness on Eye Donation.
” In the hope that I may help others I hereby make this gift, if medically acceptable, to take effect upon my death the submission in the form indicate my desires. today I pledge my eyes for the purpose of transplantation, medical research or Education to brighten the lives of the corneal blind” – a Uniform Eye Donor Pledge
Mangaluru: “For Your Eyes Only”!,- we are not talking about the 1981 James Bond movie, but we are talking about a group of Ophthalmologist along with dedicated citizens of Mangaluru and beyond caring “For Your Eyes Only” by bringing awareness about Eye Donation which would give lots of people without eye-sight a chance to have a new “Eye-Sight”. As announced earlier about the Walkathon, no matter “Rain or Shine” the walk will go on, but as of September 2, the weather was both- “Drizzling and Shining”, and a group of nearly 300-400 participants didn’t mind about the weather, instead took part in the Walkathon to bring awareness about the”Eye Donation”, ultimately aimed at a good cause.
AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangaluru which has been instrumental in bringing awareness on Organ Donation/Cadaver Donation , has now taken strenuous efforts to promote “Eye Donation” to facilitate large scale Cornea Grafting Surgeries. In India there is an amazingly poor supply of donor eyes, and the ignorance on eye donation seems to be the main culprit apart from religious dogmas. In order to bring awareness of Eye Donation, and on the occasion of National Eye Donation Fortnight, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre (AJIMS&RC) in association with South Kanara Ophthalmic Society (SKOS) & SAKSHAMA organized a walkathon on September 2, 2016 to create awareness on Eye Donation. The Walkathon was flagged off at 7.00 am in front of Mangaluru City Corporation by Dr. Ashok Hedge, Dean, AJIMS&RC, which proceeded to AJIMS&RC campus and culminated at A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences (AJIDS) auditorium.
What is monsoon in Mangaluru without rains? Keeping that in mind, the young and old participants in the “Walk” braving through the drizzle walked a few kilometers from MCC, raised slogans about eye donation and culminated at AJ Hospital campus. Dr Ajay Kudva, Associate Professor, AJIMS&RC and Secretary, SKOS welcomed the gathering and Dr. Ashok Hegde in his address explained the importance of Eye Donation. Dr Vijay Pai, Corneal Specialist, Professor and HoD, K S Hegde Medical College and Vice President, SKOS in his address explained the importance of cornea donation. Dr. Sudheer Hegde, Professor & HoD, Dept. of Ophthalmology, AJIMS&RC and President, South Kanara Ophthalmic Society (SKOS) preached the oath to about 400 members present in the auditorium who pledged their eyes to gift sight after their life.
Dr Sudheer Hegde- Prof. and HOD of Ophthalmology Department/ President of SKOS said, “Eye Donation means extraction of Cornea within six hours after death and to be used for Corneal grafting to corneal blind person. There will be no extraction of the entire eye. Only cornea is extracted hence no facial changes. Eyes can be donated with the consent of the relatives even though application regarding eye donation is not submitted. Age is not a constraint for eye donation, and all religions can give consent for eye donation. Eyes can be donated even after cataract surgery”.
Dr Vijay Pai in his address to the gathering said, “The blind population in the world is around 500 lakhs, and in India it is around 100 lakhs. Nearly 7.15 lakhs are suffering from corneal blindness out of the 100 lakhs blind in India. As against 7.15 lakhs blind people waiting for somebody to donate their eyes a meager 6,000 cornea grafting are performed for the entire country in a year. We need to come forward and pledge to donate our eyes so that others who are without eye-sight could benefit . Feel within your heart the warmth and joy flashing your body experiencing divine peace and rich satisfaction.”
” When a person is dead, place a cold blind fold on the eyes of the deceased and switch off the fan. Place a pillow under the head of the deceased. Ophthalmologist will arrive in a short period, and the extraction of cornea will be done within 15 minutes and immediately transported to eye bank and will be grafted to two blind people” added Dr Pai. Dr. Ajay Kudva, Secretary, SKOS, Dr. Vikram Jain, Treasurer, SKOS, and Vinod Shenoy, Secretary, DK Region SAKSHAMA graced the occasion, Dr. Vikram Jain, Treasurer, SKOS delivered vote of thanks.
In conclusion, please do not bury or burn eyes whose value is beyond evaluation. Donation of eyes is otherwise service to God and an expression of gratefulness to him. Behold the speculate of eyes of the deceased living magnificently in the recipients body although the body of the deceased itself is no more. Eye donation is divinity and nobility exemplified in one. Pass on the lives of your lost dear ones by rendering their eyes to the blind. Let each one of us become a ‘living lamp’ dispelling darkness and ushering light and joy to the blind in millions. Please donate eyes and give sight. Come let us join hands, think and act as a single MAN. Let each on of us become a Living Lamp dispelling darkness and ushering light and joy to the blind in millions. Donate Eyes, Give Sight.
Lakhs of people here are blind due to the paucity of Eye Donors. William Shakespeare once said, ” Eye is the window to the world”, so Friends, let’s brighten the lives of those who are blind by pledging to be a “Eye Donor”. To be a donor or for more details please call 98802 19903 or 0824-661-3333