World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired held on the second Thursday in October.
World Sight Day is observed around the world by all partners involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness. The Right to Sight" is a global effort to prevent blindness by WHO.
World Sight Day is observed around the world by all partners involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness. The Right to Sight" is a global effort to prevent blindness by WHO.
Cornea related problems are one of the most common causes of blindness around the world. According to the statistics of WHO, there are 45 million blind patients worldwide, of whom one-third i.e. 15 million reside in India. There is an estimated 4.6 million corneal blind people in India. Out of this, 90 percent are below the age of 45, including 60 percent children who are below 12 years of age.
If a cornea becomes irreparably damaged, there is only one solution: corneal transplant, which can only be performed using donated corneal tissue. Also known as “keratoplasty,” corneal transplant is performed by specially trained ophthalmologists who replace damaged corneas and correct conditions that would otherwise cause the loss of eyesight. Corneal transplants have a success rate of approximately 95% and can usually be performed on an outpatient basis. Corneal transplant is only possible through cornea donation, as there is no substitute for human corneal tissue. Without the generosity of cornea donors, thousands of Indians will be left in the dark.
100,000 corneas are needed for transplants each year in India but only about 10,000 are collected. This calls for a pressing need of launching a national awareness drive, backed by timely counseling of the grieving family, who are authorized to donate the eyes of their beloved relatives at the time of their death.
This world Sight Day Rotary Club of Mumbai Sion under the able guidance of Dr. S. Natarajan, District Chair for Care of Eyes, co-sponsoring clubs – Rotary Club of Mumbai Mahim, Rotary Club of Bombay Worli & Rotary Club of Bombay Uptown in association with Aditya Jyot foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes (AJFTLE) is organizing an impressive rally to raise awareness on eye donation and blindness prevention on 13th October 2011 at 8.30 am. The Rally will start from Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt. Ltd, plot 153, Major Parmeswaran Road, Wadala. It will pass through Khalsa College, Don Bosco, King Circle, Matunga station, and will conclude at Ruia College. The rally will be flagged off by Rtn. Vijay Jalan, Dist. Governor, RI Dist. 3140 at Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt. Ltd. Wadala (W) at 8.30am.
Remember, by donating a pair of eyes you can make a big difference to the lives of 6 corneal blind persons. Besides, nobody is going to live here forever so let us donate our eyes and light up the lives of others even after death.
Also remember that common sense safety precautions such as wearing safety goggles or glasses may be your best approach to preventing eye injuries altogether and maintaining healthy vision for a lifetime.
Who can donate eyes?
Almost everyone from the age of one onwards can donate eyes. There is no age limit to become an eye donor. No matter if you have poor eyesight or have had cataract surgery, if you're young or old, have hypertension or diabetes, you can donate your eyes without any concerns. Even a person who has lost his/her sight due to retinal or optic-nerve related disease can donate eyes, given that the cornea is unclouded.
Those who wish to donate their eyes can make a pledge with any eye bank, resolving to donate their eyes after death. Even if the deceased family member has not signed a pledge form, their immediate relatives can give consent for the donation. As the eyes need to be collected within six hours of death, one must inform the eye bank as early as possible.
Almost everyone from the age of one onwards can donate eyes. There is no age limit to become an eye donor. No matter if you have poor eyesight or have had cataract surgery, if you're young or old, have hypertension or diabetes, you can donate your eyes without any concerns. Even a person who has lost his/her sight due to retinal or optic-nerve related disease can donate eyes, given that the cornea is unclouded.
Those who wish to donate their eyes can make a pledge with any eye bank, resolving to donate their eyes after death. Even if the deceased family member has not signed a pledge form, their immediate relatives can give consent for the donation. As the eyes need to be collected within six hours of death, one must inform the eye bank as early as possible.
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment