If every dead donates eyes, corneal blindness can be removed from this country in no time: Experts

Hyderabad, September 08: Suppose every dead person’s eyes are donated by their family members, and corneal blindness can be removed from India in just five months observed experts at the concluding meeting of Eye Donation Fortnight at Phoenix Arena in Madhapur.

Sankara Eye Hospital in association with Phoenix Foundation observed August 21 to September 8 as the Eye Donation Fortnight.  To mark the closing of the same, they organized a Bike Rally on Saturday morning from Sankara Eye Hospital in the Financial District to Phoenix Arena in Madhapur.  About 100 bikers have participated.

The Bike Rally concluded at Phoenix Arena, where the organization addressed a media meet.

Addressing the media and 150-plus gathering Dr Prabhakar, an expert said, 35 lakh people in India are suffering from Corneal Blindness.  But, only 50,000 people donated eyes last year.  20,000 new corneal blindness cases are being added every year.  There is a huge supply and demand. 

One eye donation will help two blind persons he added.

While this is the scenario, nearly 30,000 people die a day across India. If family members of all the dead donate the eyes of their loved ones, we can eradicate blindness from this country in just a few months, various experts who spoke on the occasion observed. 

Sankara Eye Hospital which has come up in April this year is a 225-bed hospital. The state government has provided land for this and has been providing free treatment to 40 deserving poor patients for every paid surgery done there, informed Srikanth Badiga, Group Director of Phoenix. 

This was an initiative designed to raise public awareness about the critical importance of eye donation and its proud impact on individuals in need said Mr. M. Ranjit Kumar, Unit Head Shankara Eye Hospital

Neelesh Jani, Director of Phoenix group said the Eye Donation Awareness Campaign is a beacon of hope for those living in the darkness of visual blindness. 

 The pillion riders carried placards of eye donation messages during a bike ride. The participants include the staff of both organizations and their connections. 

The rally started from Shankara Eye Hospital in the Financial District in Gachibowli and went through Nanakramguda – Kokapet service road, Adjacent to Lansum Etania to Phoenix Arena Hitech City and it concluded there.

The poor and needy who cannot afford eye surgery may approach Sankara Eye Hospital for help.

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