Why shortage of ‘young’ corneas is hampering corneal blindness prevention drive in Keralam
Kerala is facing a critical shortage of donor corneas, particularly from younger donors, which hinders efforts to combat corneal blindness. Health experts are calling for improved Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programmes to increase donation rates and address public misconceptions about the process.
Why it matters
Addressing the shortage of donor tissue is essential for public health initiatives aimed at reducing preventable blindness in the region.
As National Eye Donation Fortnight kicks off in Keralam, a shortage of donor corneas — particularly good-quality tissue from younger donors — continues to be a major impediment to the State’s fight against corneal blindness, ophthalmologists say.
The shortage of donor corneas is not just due to a lack of awareness about eye donation. Many people are aware of the concept, but actual eye donation often does not materialise for various reasons, including lack of family consent, fear of disfigurement, or the poor tissue quality of the retrieved corneas.
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