Loss of a young child is the biggest tragedy in one’s life. But there are people in this selfish world, who at such a heart wrenching moment too, think about others. Meet a couple from Pune who have helped to bring light in someone’s life; and their late son who is no less than an angel…
This couple lost their 2 year old son to pneumonia. At this tragic moment they took a decision that has brightened a life. They decided to donate their son's eyes. Today their toddler is not in this world but he is still among us in the form of his eyes. In a country where over 15 million people are blind, a selfless act like this is certainly commendable.
As per the World Health Organization report in 2007, 39 million cases of blindness are existing worldwide. If this statistics has to be believed, almost 50% of the cases are in India. 75% of these cases are of avoidable blindness. But in this country of over a billion people, there is acute shortage of donated eyes. While the country needs 2.5 million donated eyes every year, the country’s eye banks manage to collect a mere 25,000 eyes.
There is a vast gap between the number of patients needing specialized eye care and the number of ophthalmologists available. There is just one eye surgeon per 100,000 people. Only 10,000 corneal transplants are done every year. This figure is shocking considering that 26% of the blinds in India are children. The condition has changed a little in past four years. Cataract is still a major a cause of blindness followed by glaucoma and other causes.
The situation can very well be brought under control only if the resources are mobilized and used in their utmost capacity. Majority of these cases can be treated by corneal transplant. Unfortunately very little efforts are made to create awareness in society about eye donation. Many myths about eye donation are still prevalent. Those who are ready to step in have little information about what has to be done. But the picture is turning out to be positive now a day. An incident mentioned at the beginning is a good example of it.
Some facts about eye donation:
• Eyes should be donated within 6 hours of death
• Anyone can donate irrespective of age, sex, gender and religion
• People with past eye surgeries, wearing glasses, diabetics and hypertensive can also donate
• The donor need not be taken to the eye bank. The team will come to the donor’s home to collect eyes. The service is free of cost
• The procedure takes only 15-20 minutes
• There is no disfigurement of the donor’s face
Precautions to be taken for eye donation:
• Inform the nearest eye bank immediately
• Place wet cotton with ice over the closed eye lids
• Raise head with a pillow
• Switch off the fans
Death in a family is certainly an unfortunate event, but the feeling that a part of your loved one is shining somewhere is more satisfying.
This couple lost their 2 year old son to pneumonia. At this tragic moment they took a decision that has brightened a life. They decided to donate their son's eyes. Today their toddler is not in this world but he is still among us in the form of his eyes. In a country where over 15 million people are blind, a selfless act like this is certainly commendable.
As per the World Health Organization report in 2007, 39 million cases of blindness are existing worldwide. If this statistics has to be believed, almost 50% of the cases are in India. 75% of these cases are of avoidable blindness. But in this country of over a billion people, there is acute shortage of donated eyes. While the country needs 2.5 million donated eyes every year, the country’s eye banks manage to collect a mere 25,000 eyes.
There is a vast gap between the number of patients needing specialized eye care and the number of ophthalmologists available. There is just one eye surgeon per 100,000 people. Only 10,000 corneal transplants are done every year. This figure is shocking considering that 26% of the blinds in India are children. The condition has changed a little in past four years. Cataract is still a major a cause of blindness followed by glaucoma and other causes.
The situation can very well be brought under control only if the resources are mobilized and used in their utmost capacity. Majority of these cases can be treated by corneal transplant. Unfortunately very little efforts are made to create awareness in society about eye donation. Many myths about eye donation are still prevalent. Those who are ready to step in have little information about what has to be done. But the picture is turning out to be positive now a day. An incident mentioned at the beginning is a good example of it.
Some facts about eye donation:
• Eyes should be donated within 6 hours of death
• Anyone can donate irrespective of age, sex, gender and religion
• People with past eye surgeries, wearing glasses, diabetics and hypertensive can also donate
• The donor need not be taken to the eye bank. The team will come to the donor’s home to collect eyes. The service is free of cost
• The procedure takes only 15-20 minutes
• There is no disfigurement of the donor’s face
Precautions to be taken for eye donation:
• Inform the nearest eye bank immediately
• Place wet cotton with ice over the closed eye lids
• Raise head with a pillow
• Switch off the fans
Death in a family is certainly an unfortunate event, but the feeling that a part of your loved one is shining somewhere is more satisfying.