Sat Nov 16 15:45:00 UTC 2024: ## India Faces Corneal Blindness Crisis Despite Advances in Transplant Surgery
**New Delhi, November 16, 2024** – India is grappling with a significant corneal blindness crisis, despite advancements in corneal transplant surgery. While the procedure has seen remarkable improvements since the first successful transplant in India in 1960, the country falls far short of its target of 100,000 corneal transplants annually. Corneal blindness is the leading cause of blindness among individuals under 50, according to the National Programme for the Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment, affecting over a million people.
The lack of sufficient corneal donations is a major hurdle. Although millions of deaths occur annually in India, only a small percentage result in eligible corneal donations due to procedural delays and consent issues. To address this, the government is exploring amending the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, to potentially incorporate a “soft” opt-in system of presumed consent, requiring family approval alongside presumed donor consent.
The article highlights the importance of increased corneal donations, diligent post-operative care, and a streamlined system to facilitate transplants. Experts emphasize the need for a harmonious approach, combining government initiatives (“Netra Daan”) with ophthalmological efforts (“Pashyantu Sarve Janah”) and crucial family consent (“Sammati Parivarasya”). The success of corneal transplants relies not only on surgical advancements, but also on a robust system to increase donor availability.
First Piper 