Since 1986, National Eye donation fortnight fortnight is observed every year from August 25 to September 8 to create awareness among the public about the importance of eye, eye donation and eye pledging under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
Kannada actor Puneet Rajkumar’s eye donation boosted eye donation and eye pledging. Narayana Nethralaya which runs Dr. Rajkumar Eye B has recorded a huge hike in donations since Dr. Puneeth eye donation.
K. Bhujang Shetty, chairman and managing director of Narayana Netralaya, said the eye bank has received one lakh eye pledges from November till today.
Anybody can donate eyes irrespective of age, sex, religion, blood group. The people suffering from diabetes, cataract, glaucoma, hypertension, cardiac issues asthma or refractive errors can donate eyes. Pledging of eyes before death is not compulsory. Eyes should be collected within six hours after death. Removal of eyes takes not more than 20 minutes and does not disfigure the face.
