By Fr George Kannanthanam

About 300 people from St Claret and St Joseph Church at Dasarahalli, Bangalore pledged to donate their eyes on July 16th, Sunday. They pledged to donate their eyes after death with Project Vision an organisation working for eye donation in Bangalore.

India has one third of worlds blind people with 15 million persons being completely blind. About 30 lakh of the blind population can see again through an eye donation.

Project Vision was started in 2014 by Fr George Kannanthanam, a Claretian priest. So far more than 60,000 persons have pledged to donate their eyes with Project Vision. Already 100 persons have received sight through the donations done through this organisation in various parts of the country. Project Vision spearheading a global eye donation movement.

Presently only very few people come forward to donate their eyes. Only about 26,000 persons donated their eyes in 2016 in India, though there were about 85 lakhs death reported. Karnataka had only about 3000 persons who donated their eyes last year. This is far below the requirement in the country.

Many religious, social and corporate organisations are coming forward to donate their eyes through the efforts done by Project Vision.

There is no age limit to donate eyes. Even people with diabetics or blood pressure can donate their eyes. There will not be any disfigurement of the face because of eye donation. Eyes can be collected till six hours after death. They can be stored upto 14 days in an eye bank after collection.

It is very easy to donate eyes after death. Just give a call to any Eye Bank. In Karnataka you can just call 104, the Health Helpline of the government and they will connect you to the nearest eye bank. You can also contact Project Vision which will coordinate with the eye bank. (9845811515).

Christians are encouraged to donate their eyes. They follow the example of Jesus who gave sight to the blind. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has encouraged all Christians to donate their eyes. “The donation of eyes after death is both legitimate and meritorious.” (2301).