LET THE LESS FORTUNATE SEE THROUGH OUR EYES - DR. P .KALPANA- HINDU CBE 17.2.13
Let the less fortunate
see through our eyes - Dr.P.Kalpana
On Diwali Day
my mobile phone chimed and I heard my friend screaming out of agony and helplessness.
Once I reached her residence, I found all hell was let loose there. A merciless
cracker had smashed her 7 yr old kid's face and the child was yelling in pain.
In the
emergency ward of a multi-specialty hospital, all the dirt blood and remnants of
inflammable chemicals were removed and a host of sophisticated investigators
revealed that the child had lost her vision.
As I drove
back home, the sky started drizzling as did my eyes. As an ophthalmologist, I
could foresee the plight of this little boy. He will be put on the long
wait list of corneal transplant cases. Regrettably awareness of eye donation is
explicitly low.
About eye donation:
It doesn't mean donation of the entire eye as
perceived by many. it is only donation of the cornea, i.e the clear transplant
dome in front of the back portion of eye. Anyone of any age can donate their
eyes(cornea). Even very aged persons using spectacles or those with diabetes or
hypertension are no exception.
All that is
needed is that the eyes should be removed within six hours of death.It will
leave no disfigurement that will interfere with funeral practices and the
entire procedure takes just 20-30 min.
Donors can
pledge with any eye bank, resolving to part with their eyes after death. In
case, the eyes are not pledged, the loved ones of the deceased can decide on
the donation .Eye donation services by the government and voluntary sectors are
provided free of charge.
Let a couple of lesser fortunate brethren see
through our eyes for the rest of their lives.