MISSION
Procure Corneas as many as posible to fight against Corneal Blindness.

NEPAL EYE BANK

The Nepal Eye Bank at TIO is an unprecedented facility in Nepal. The concept of the Eye Bank was supported by the International Federation of Eye and Tissue Banks (IFETB), before TIO was even built in 1994.
As the only Eye Bank in Nepal it has the responsibility to carry out various important functions, including:
1.Harvesting corneas 2.Processing and preserving corneas 3.Blood testing 4.Distribution of corneas 5.Conducting public awareness campaigns 6.Maintaining the records of patients who are waiting for corneal transplants
In the initial years, corneas were excised from a deceased body in the open at the cremation site at Pashupatinath temple (the major cremation site of Kathmandu), mostly on the bank of river with crowd of people watching. With an active participation of Lions Club of Pashupatinath and generous support from Pashupati Area Development Trust, a proper Eye Donation Information Center & Cornea Excision Center was set up at the Cremation site of Bhasmeswar Ghat of Pashupati Area. With this facility, information & counseling services are is provided to the relatives of deceased people.
Once relatives of the deceased have given their consent for corneas to be donated, technicians from the Eye Bank excise the corneal tissue. The theatre facility at Aryaghat is used for excision of the corneal tissue and for taking a sample of the donor’s serum.
Once the tissue is tested at the Eye Bank it is then sent to other eye centres throughout Nepal or to neighbouring countries who have requested it. Corneal tissue is useable for up to four days when kept in the appropriate conditions.
Plans are underway to establish corneal collection centres in other parts of Nepal, where corneal tissue and blood can be collected and transported to the Eye Bank at TIO for testing, evaluation, preservation and distribution.
Training and orientation in eye banking has also been given to doctors and medical students of other eye hospitals of Nepal and other countries.
It was never thought that the response to cornea donation would be so positive in Nepal. Without public support, the work of the Eye Bank would not be possible. However, there is still a lot to do to remove misconceptions of the general population about cornea donation.
Public awareness campaigns for cornea donation have required a lot of commitment and it is a continuous process for the Eye Bank technicians, local Lions clubs, entertainers and individuals, who have all participated in innovative public awareness campaigns, high-profile donations and cornea pledge meetings. One of the highlights in 2009 when prominent artists of Nepal got together and made paintings for TIO. All these paintings were exhibited to raise funds for the eye bank. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to achieve even more awareness.
A memorial service is organized every year for all the eye donors. The families of the donors pay respect to their deceased relative and the benefactors (cornea transplanted patients) join in to express gratitude and share their experience of their journey from darkness to light.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT EYE DONATION

What is eye donation?
It's giving your corneas upon death to help save and restore the sight of someone who is blinded by disease of the Cornea.

What is the cornea?
The cornea is the clear transparent window in front of the eye, and allows light to enter the eye. The cornea can be damaged by injury or infection.

How can corneal donation help people?
The cornea is a clear transparant layer of the Eye. Due to various factors, the corneas becomes opaque like frosted glass and this may result in loss of sight.

A damaged or cloudy cornea can be replaced surgically by a procedure known as corneal grafting or transplantation. During this operation, the cloudy, diseased cornea is replaced by a healthy, normal cornea which is donated by another individual. After a successful transplant, vision can be restored to normal. Corneal donation therefore restores vision to those blinded by corneal disease.

The rate of success of corneal grafting is very high. So, a successful corneal graft can restore his/her sight and enable a person to regain independence.

Why should I consider corneal donation?
Because for many, the only hope of sight is offered by someone who donates his/her cornea. Donating your corneas is one of the most precious gifts you will ever bestow on another human being. This special gift will dramatically improve the quality of life for someone now living in darkness. Hundreds of people have been helped through corneal donation. They've been given a new lease on life because others have cared enough to be come donors. But, hundreds more are waiting for desperately needed corneal donations. The demand for corneas far exceeds the supply. People like you can help change the situation!

Will removal of the cornea disfigure the face?
Absolutely not! The body is treated with respect like God in Nepal. Only the cornea and not the whole eye is removed. It is about the size and shape of a contact lens or it is like glass botton of watch. Corneal removal is performed shortly after death and should not delay funeral arrangements. Also, it is still possible to have an open-casket funeral service, as one is not able to detect that corneal donation has been achieved. So, removal of the corneas does not disfigure the appearance of the face of body.

Can I donate my eyes if I have vision problems?
Yes! Your eyes may be useful even if you have poor vision. You are never too young or too old to be an eye donor. People with short-sightedness, long-sightedness, or astigmatism can also donate their eyes. Even people with eye diseases other than corneal disease can donate their eyes.

How can I become an eye or cornea donor?
Donating eye tissue does not entail any cost to the donor or the doner's family. If you wish to plege to donate your eyes, just fill out an Eye Donor Card (Donor card is available at Nepal Eye Bank, Tilganga institute of ophthalomolog). You can also contact the Nepal Eye Bank phone: (01) 493684,493775 Fax: (01) 474937 or Mobile: 981020933. An Eye Donor Card will be issued to you by the Tilganga Eye Centre, Nepal Eye Bank. Carry the card with you at all times. It will instantly alert medical personnel to your wishes.

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DISCUSS YOUR DECISION WITH YOUR FAMILY

A completed donor card is a legal document.
However, it's very important to let your family know your wishes. After the passing away of a loved one, immediate family members are often faced with the decision as to whether they should consider eye donation. If the loved one has previously communicated the wish to donate his or her corneas, then the decision is much easier for the family.

Explain why you want to become a donor.
Talk about how becoming a donor can help: - others who are blind and waiting for a cornea donor - the grieving family, who may find comfort in knowing that something positive, has come from a loved one's death.

Discuss any concerns that they may have
For example, let your family know that becoming a donor: - should not interfere with funeral arrangements or disfigure the body - will not interfere with attempts to save your life - you'll receive the same high-quality medical care that a non-donor receives.

Encourage others to become donors
But, remember, becoming a donor is a personal decision.

For more information, please call the
Nepal Eye Bank at tel: (01)493684, 493775 or
Email at: twyana@tilganga.com.np

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EYE DONATION FORM
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