What is eye bank?
Eye bank is an organisation that deals with the collection, storage and distribution of cornea for cornea grafting,studies and supply of the eye tissues for opthalmic uses.
Functions of Eye bank:
1) Promoting eye donation by increasing awareness among public about eye donation.
2) Registration of the donors for eye donation.
3) Collection of donated eyes from the donor.
4) Receiving and processing of the donor eyes.
5) Preservation of the tissues for future use.
6) Distribution of corneal tissue for the surgeon.
7) Research studies on eye tissues.
Eye bank personnel:
1) Eye bank incharge:
He should be a qualified ophthalmologist to process, evaluate and distribution of donor tissue.
2) Eye bank technician:
He should be a trained and qualified technician. The duties of technician are,
- Keeping the eye collection kits ready.
- Assisting in enucleation of donor eyes.
- Recording the data of donor and donor materials & waiting list of patients.
- processing and treating the donor eyes with antibiotics.
- Assisting corneal preservation and storage.
- Maintaining aseptic environment in the eye bank.
3) Clerk cum storekeeper:
The duties are,
- Maintaining meticulous records.
- Coordinating with other eye banks.
- Distribution of cornea to surgeons or eye banks.
4) Medical social worker/ public relation officer:
- For supplying publicity materials to people.
- To promote eye donations.
5)Driver cum projectionist:
- He maintains the vehicle of eye bank.
- To flim the eye donation promotion in a community.
Eye collection centres:
One collection center is located in urban areas with population of more than 2 lakhs people.
Usually four to five collection centres are attached with each eye bank.
Functions of eye collection centre:
- promotion of eye donation.
- Registration of voluntary donors.
- Arrangements for collection of eye after death.
- Collecting, processing, packing and transportation of donor eyes to the attached eye bank.
Personnel needed for eye collection centres:
- Ophthalmic technician trained in eye bank.
- local voluntary agencies/workers.
- Ophthalmic surgeon or enucleation trained medical officer available on call.
Legal aspects:
The collection & use of donated eyes come under “ The Transplantation of Human Organs Act -1994".
Facts about eye donation:
1) Anyone at any age can pledge to donate eyes after death, all that need is a healthy cornea.
2) The eyes should be removed within six hours of death.
3) One eye is transplanted to one blind person,thus, eye donation gives vision for two blind persons.
4) The donated eyes are never bought or sold and eye donation is never refused.
5) The eyes can be pledged to an eye bank and can actually donated to any nearest eye bank at the time of death.
6) The eyes can't be removed from living human inspite of his/ her consent and wish.
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