Can eye donation rates be increased in hospitals: a pilot study in a tertiary care hospital in North India?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is a huge need to increase the corneal donation rates worldwide. The tertiary care hospitals can play a pivotal role in this as these hospitals manage a large number of terminally sick patients. Traditionally the thrust of such hospitals is providing specialized medical care and something like eye donation does not get the attention it deserves. In this scenario, can such institutes contribute to increase eye donation rates? METHOD: An intervention involving all the main stakeholders in promoting eye donation, namely nurses, counsellors & the management of the institute, was put into place. The results of this intervention, i.e. the corneas procured by the institute, was measured over a post intervention period of one year. RESULT: The study showed a significant increase in the number of corneas procured by the institute post intervention. DISCUSSION: Hospitals can play a huge role in meeting the demand for corneas by scientifically implementing cornea retrieval programs. The study shows that by using technology & providing a dynamic leadership, hospitals can augment corneal donation rates.