Have had previous eye surgeries? Don't worry, you too can donate your corneas
India is facing a severe shortage of corneas.
By ET CONTRIBUTORS |
By Dr Ashwin Shetty
Organ donation has always been a kind deed, and giving away your eyes can bring about a big change in lives of people suffering from vision loss.
Many hospitals collaborate with the government or NGOs to organise eye donation campaigns every year during National Fortnight on Eye Donation, which is observed under the National Program for Control of Blindness.
Hope for corneal blind people The majority of corneal blind people are young and their eye sight can be restored through corneal transplantation. They suffer vision loss due to injuries, infections, deficiency of Vitamin A, malnutrition, congenital and many other factors.
While the number of eye donors has gone up over the years, it hasn't been able to close the gap of number of corneas required every year. Hence, it has become very crucial to educate people of all ages about eye donation.
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In India, very few people have understanding about eye donation. Most people still think that harvesting eyes is not only a dangerous procedure, but stigmatic as well, which is one of the major factors in the low cornea donations.
What's cornea? The cornea is the clear surface at the front of the eye, which enables focusing. When the cornea becomes cloudy from disease, injury, infection or any other cause, vision is drastically reduced. Cornea transplant is the surgical procedure, which replaces a disc-shaped segment of an impaired cornea with a similarly shaped piece of a healthy donor cornea. Corneal transplantation in infants born with cloudy cornea can make a big difference to their lives.
Corneal blindness: In numbers Approximately 8.4 million Indians suffer from corneal blindness in at least one eye. Recent data indicates that only about 30,000 transplants are done in a year in India. In order to manage this problem, India needs about 1,00,000 corneal transplants every year to catch up with this massive backlog. The technical skills and infrastructure for treating corneal blindness is available in the country, but lack of cornea donors is the main problem.
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Best time to harvest cornea The corneas need to be harvested within six hours after death of the donor. To increase the viability of the corneas after death, the eyes of the deceased should be kept closed and covered with a wet cloth or piece of cotton. Once a decision has been taken to donate the eyes, the relatives of the deceased need to call the nearest eye bank. A team from the eye bank will visit to harvest the corneas, which is a short procedure and takes about 15-20 minutes. The family can then proceed with the rituals as usual.
How you can be an eye donor
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A person can tell his/her family and legal representatives that he/she is willing to donate eyes after they pass away. A donor card can serve as an indication to the family/legal representatives and hospitals.
Things to keep in mind when donating eyes: - Eyes need to be donated within 6-8 hours of death - The decision of eye donation can also be taken by the patient's relatives - There is no age limit for eye donation. Young children, the elderly and even those who have undergone previous eye surgeries can donate their eyes - Under the right circumstances, the eyes of one person can be used to restore vision in up to our patients with corneal blindness
Eye donation is a noble cause, and don't miss the opportunity in restoring vision who need it the most after your death.
(The author is Chief Consultant, Ophthalmology, Aster CMI hospital, Bangalore)
World No Tobacco Day: Smoking Can Hurt Eyes, Bones And Brain
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Most smokers believe smoking is cool. No matter how you indulge in it, tobacco is harmful to your health. Tobacco contains over 7,000 toxins and 70 known carcinogens (chemicals that increase cancer risk) and can damage nearly every organ of the body.
Dr Sachin Kumar, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology at Sakra World Hospital explains how smoking affects every part of your body.
The next time you are tempted to take a drag, just pause for a minute and think of the consequences of your indulgence.
Most smokers believe smoking is cool. No matter how you indulge in it, tobacco is harmful to your health. Tobacco contains over 7,000 toxins and 70 known carcinogens (chemicals that increase cancer r..
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Smoking usually helps smokers relax on a short-term basis. But, it comes at a huge price in the long-term. Smoking results in addiction and anxiety. It alters the brain chemistry and can increase the risk of stroke.
Smoking usually helps smokers relax on a short-term basis. But, it comes at a huge price in the long-term. Smoking results in addiction and anxiety. It alters the brain chemistry and can increase the..
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Cancer of mouth and throat is common among smokers. In addition, smoking can also result in gum disease, premature tooth loss, discolouration of teeth, etc.
Cancer of mouth and throat is common among smokers. In addition, smoking can also result in gum disease, premature tooth loss, discolouration of teeth, etc.
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, develops due to smoking. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which causes difficulty in breathing is another common cause of death among smokers. Chronic Bronchitis, the inflammation of the bronchial tubes which also results in difficulty in breathing, is caused primarily due to smoking.
Smoking also increases the risk of other infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, develops due to smoking. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which causes difficulty in breathing is another common cause of death amon..
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Smoking is one of the leading causes for heart diseases. Regular smokers, as well as second-hand/passive smokers, are at high risk of heart disease.
Tobacco also contributes to heart conditions by reducing the good cholesterol (HDL) and increasing the bad cholesterol (LDL and Triglycerides) in the body.
Smoking is one of the leading causes for heart diseases. Regular smokers, as well as second-hand/passive smokers, are at high risk of heart disease.
Tobacco also contributes to heart conditions by r..
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In men, smoking can result in abnormality of sperm, impotence, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer.
In women, smoking can result in infertility, miscarriage, early menopause, and cervical and ovarian cancer.
Smoking can impact the future generation, and can lead to physical deformities and sudden infant deaths.
In men, smoking can result in abnormality of sperm, impotence, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer.
In women, smoking can result in infertility, miscarriage, early menopause, and cervical and ..
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Smoking increases the risk of eye-related problems like stinging, excessive tearing, glaucoma and cataract. It can result in partial or total blindness if untreated.
Smoking increases the risk of eye-related problems like stinging, excessive tearing, glaucoma and cataract. It can result in partial or total blindness if untreated.
The kidney's main function is to clear the toxic wastes from our body. But, smoking does exactly the opposite.
It increases the chances of kidney failure, bladder cancer and other urinary tract-related problems.
The kidney's main function is to clear the toxic wastes from our body. But, smoking does exactly the opposite.
It increases the chances of kidney failure, bladder cancer and other urinary tract-rela..
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Bones provide structure to the body. Due to the toxins present in tobacco, smoking can result in osteoporosis (weakening of the bones), increasing the risk of hip fracture, spine-related problems, bone marrow cancer and also rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to the above-mentioned problems, tobacco can also result in premature ageing, hair loss, weak immunity etc.
Bones provide structure to the body. Due to the toxins present in tobacco, smoking can result in osteoporosis (weakening of the bones), increasing the risk of hip fracture, spine-related problems, bo..
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Smoking reduces appetite. It prevents adequate nutrition to the body which makes the body weak. It can also up the insulin resistance of the body which makes people susceptible to type 2 diabetes. It also has a negative impact on the liver and intestine, and can increase the risk of ulcers in the stomach and intestine.
Smoking reduces appetite. It prevents adequate nutrition to the body which makes the body weak. It can also up the insulin resistance of the body which makes people susceptible to type 2 diabetes. It..
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
