Maha lags behind in eye donations: Data tabled in LS

MAHARASHTRA WITH 74 EYE BANKS — WHICH IS 20% OF INDIA’S EYE BANKS — HAS MANAGED 23,311 EYE DONATIONS BETWEEN MARCH 2015 AND JULY 2018

MUMBAI: Despite having the largest number of eye banks in the country, Maharashtra stands sixth in eye donations. The national data submitted in the Lok Sabha said the state recorded only 936 out of 14,474 (6%) eye donations in India between April and July 25 this year.

While officials called it a statistical irregularity, ophthalmologists cited lack of networking between hospitals and eye banks and myths.

As per national reports, 40% to 50% of donated eyes are utilised for corneal transplantation across the country. “Because of reasons such as poor quality of collected corneas, age of donor and pre-existing degeneration/ diseases not all collected corneas are found suitable for corneal transplantation,” said Anupriya Patel, minister of state, health and family welfare, while presenting the statistics in the Lok Sabha last week.

Maharashtra, with 74 eye banks—which is 20% of India’s eye banks — has managed 23,311 eye donations from March 2015 to July 2018. During the period, Telangana (two eye banks, 27,725 donations), Tamil Nadu (38 eye banks, 37,898 donations) and Gujarat (29 eye banks, 26,759 donations) have achieved higher targets.

Dr Satish Pawar, joint director of Directorate of Health Services, said the numbers are low in Maharashtra due to the accurate reportage system. “While Maharashtra reported the transplanted corneas, other states probably report every eye donation,” said Dr Pawar.

Ophthalmologists said myths among people in the state are still strong. “In some communities, eye donation is barred because of their religious beliefs. Such myths need to be busted,” said Dr TP Lahane, former dean and head of ophthalmology department, Sir JJ Hospital.

Dr Radhika Tandon from Indian Eye Bank Association said there is a need to create a strong network of eye banks in collaboration with major hospitals. “The cornea needs to be transplanted within 10 days. While states such as Maharashtra and West Bengal have restricted cross border transplantation of eye donations, others don’t have enough funds for retrieval, transportation and other logistical means,” she said.