Bengaluru: Dr K. Bhujang Shetty, chairman and MD at Narayana Nethralaya reveals that India needs 2 lakh cornea and of the 45,000 that are donated only 20,000 can be used for transplant.
"Every year 25,000-30,000 people go blind and 75% are preventable. Major contributor to visual impairment is cataract but it is curable. However, other major contributors are corneal blindness, diabetic eye diseases and childhood eye problems and they need more attention because there is not enough awareness," Dr Shetty said.
"On an average sadly in the city nearly 300-400 deaths take place every day, but only 5-10 people donate their eyes. And there is this huge gap between demand and supply and there should be more awareness," he added.
Another issue raised by eye specialists is the early detection and treatment for childhood eye problems, which mostly goes unnoticed until a later year and hence becomes incurable.
"It is best to prevent visual disability by starting with your child’s eye examined, which is compulsory, at the age of 2 to 3 years. Everyone also needs a mandatory eye check after 40 years age. Self-medication in any form can be extremely harmful," said Dr M.S. Ravindra, Chief Surgeon and Medical Director at Karthik Netralaya, Bengaluru.
