New Delhi: Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram, marked this year’s National Eye Donation Fortnight (August 25 – September 8) with a significant milestone—over 500 individuals pledged to donate their eyes, reflecting a sharp rise in awareness and public participation towards combating corneal blindness.
The campaign included a symposium featuring expert talks aimed at dispelling myths and misconceptions around eye donation, long seen as barriers to voluntary pledging. Dedicated pledge booths were set up at the Fortis Eye Institute OPD, while a geriatric public health event brought together hundreds of senior citizens, many of whom pledged their eyes during the program.
India continues to face a pressing challenge in addressing corneal blindness. Nearly 100,000 corneal transplants are required annually, translating into a need for about 200,000 donor corneas due to limited utilization rates (Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2023). Government surveys (2015–2019) further highlight corneal blindness as the second leading cause of blindness among those above 50 and the primary cause in younger patients, underscoring the scale of the issue.
Dr. Parul Sharma, Principal Director & HOD, Fortis Eye Institute, said, “There are approximately 11 lakh corneal blind people in India with nearly 25,000 new cases being added each year as per National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB). Bridging this demand-supply gap is only possible through increased public awareness and willingness to support the noble cause of eye donation. As a leading multi-super specialty hospital and tertiary referral centre, FMRI is deeply committed to promoting the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program and driving this mission forward.”
She further emphasized the challenges in eye donation, including myths, family refusals despite pledges, cultural and religious concerns, delays in notifying eye banks within the six-hour retrieval window, and shortages of trained counsellors and infrastructure.
Yashpal Rawat, Facility Director, Fortis Gurgaon, added, “Vision is the most vital sense for every individual. At Fortis Gurgaon, we are committed to helping those in need regain their sight and live a brighter, fuller life. Through the dedicated efforts of our skilled team of corneal surgeons and counsellors, we continue to strengthen sight-restoration programs and create greater impact for patients and families.”
The campaign also saw strong participation from younger generations, who are leveraging social media, college drives, street plays, and tech-enabled pledge initiatives to normalize and encourage eye donation. Their role as influencers within families makes them key change-makers in this mission.
At an institutional level, Fortis Hospitals continue to strengthen their Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program (HCRP), ensuring timely retrieval of corneal tissue from eligible and willing donors. Supported by ICU staff, grief counsellors, and eye bank professionals, the program helps restore vision for those suffering from corneal blindness and advances the broader mission of sight restoration in India.
