Corneal Transplant
CORNEA SURGERY:
THE PROBLEM
The cornea is the transparent window covering the front part of the eye – like a watch glass that covers the inner structures. The function is to focus light on the retina for clear vision and helps in protecting the inner parts. A clear cornea is important for good vision.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, there are 39 million blind and another 246 million visually impaired people in the world. The burden of blindness in Pakistan contributes to nearly one fifth of the global blindness burden. Cataract and refractive errors constitute more than 80% of the blindness and are largely avoidable.
Hashmanis Welfare Foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment towards the reduction of prevalence of overall blindness. Mostly, primary level eye care aims to deliver affordable services to all, irrespective of the socio-economic abilities of individuals. Primary eye care largely refers to a combination of activities encompassing promotive, preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitation services delivered at community level to avert serious sequels resulting in blindness. Since primary eye care is a by-product of larger primary health care, it retains its basic principles of community participation, inter-sectoral co-ordination, use of appropriate technology and equitable distribution of resources.
The components of primary eye care include raising adequate awareness about eye health and the prevention of common eye diseases through health education. Primary eye care also includes timely detection of common eye diseases such as cataract and refractive errors, the leading causes of visual impairment. Refractive errors can be addressed effectively by ophthalmic assistants through the primary eye care delivery network by provision of spectacles.
At Hashmanis Welfare Foundation thousands of patients wait for a corneal transplant and many die waiting for a transplant. The issue of cornea donation is still one of the major problems in every society; to put it simply, the demand exceeds the supply.
THE SOLUTION
The Hashmanis Welfare Foundation comprises of a dynamic team of cornea sub-specialty ophthalmologists who are skilled in the latest medical and surgical care of patients with corneal, external eye and anterior segment diseases.
We are well equipped with all the modern diagnostic tools including – anterior segment OCT, specular microscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, scheimpflug corneal tomography, ocular aberrometry, dry eye diagnostics including meibography and blink dynamics.
We also have a good microbiology lab to help us manage any case of corneal or surface infections.
Hashmanis Welfare Foundation has recently taken steps to create awareness amongst the general public about corneal donation and a campaign is also being launched to contact and encourage willing donors to fill in pledge cards for this purpose.
The Hashmanis Welfare Foundation offers financial assistance to those who are in need and fulfil the eligibility criteria. At Hashmanis Welfare Foundation thousands of patients wait for a corneal transplant and many die waiting for a transplant.
The Hashmanis Welfare Foundation offers financial assistance to those who are in need and fulfil the eligibility criteria. Given the magnitude of corneal blindness in our country, we should come forward to pledge, and donate our eyes. We must overcome any superstitions, myths and wrong beliefs and try to make a positive impact on someone’s life. When we donate our eyes, we change someone’s life forever, for the better. The gift of sight is a gift which will never be forgotten and will earn for you eternal gratitude from someone who will see the world through your eyes, granting your eyes immortality.
Donations given to the Hashmanis Welfare Foundation allow us provide the highest quality vision correction surgery and critical medical care to the poor, disabled, and elderly patients. Your donations go toward at the Hashmanis Welfare Foundation for surgical supplies, provide travel stipends to the volunteer surgical teams, custom fees and medical permits, and educational programs for both the surgeons and the patients alike.
Since we are a Non – Government organization, our operations are carried out by the generous donations made by people and companies. Hence, we humbly request the visitors to the site to make Online Donations to Hashmanis Welfare Foundation and join us in achieving the goal of eradicating corneal blindness.
HOW IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CHARITIES
Hashmanis Foundation Hospitals are equipped with the most advance state of the art equipments which are nowhere to be found in Pakistan. Thousands of patients get free treatments by professional doctors at our hospitals on these machines to achieve the best possible results.
Facts and FAQs about Eye Donation
Hashmanis Eye Bank is the link between donor, recipient and eye surgeon. It’s a corporation recognized by the government to gather and distribute human eyes to those requiring corneal transplantation.
Eye donation refers to the system of pledging to contribute one’s eyes after death. It’s a voluntary act done for the advantage of society, which causes no harm to the emotions and non-secular faiths of the deceased’s family.
The process requires you to fill a form, available on website. It’s also important to tell your loved once or legal representative about the choice. In such a case, a donor card can be provided to be used at the time of actual eye donation. Eyes are often donated with the consent of the relatives if the eye bank is informed on time after the death.
Eyes can be donated by anyone regardless of any age, gender or blood type.
Eyes suffering from eye problems of short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism or may be operated by cataract surgery are still eligible for an eye donation. Since the cornea isn’t suffering from these eye problems.
Health diseases i.e. diabetics, hypertension, and asthma which aren’t communicable still allow one to donate her/his eyes.
It is not recommended for people affected b tetanus, AIDS, syphilis or blood borne infections. Also, if an individual had died due to rabies or any infectious diseases, then eye donation is ruled out.
Eyes donated by one person provides the gift of vision to second blind individuals. However, nowadays component surgery of the cornea uses just a layer of the cornea for transplantation, which allows one eye to revive the vision of up to five patients. This way, a donation of your eyes can gift vision to ten people. Eye banks maintain a record of all donated eyes and confirm all of them are used.
An eye bank is a charitable organization which preserves, collects, examines, and provides the donated eyes. It’s formed and administered under strict medical standards.
No. Only the skinny transparent layer in front of the iris called the cornea is employed for transplant.
To become a donor, all you’ve got to try to do is either register online for eye donation or consult an eye bank. There are some formalities that you simply need to do and therefore the organization or eye bank can assist you with all the formalities to possess a smooth sailing experience.
Eyes of the deceased are to be closed or moist cotton are often placed over the eyes. To reduce the bleeding during eye collection, raise the donor’s head about six inches with a pillow. Switch off all the fans. Cover the deceased’s forehead with an ice pack or polythene filled with ice cubes. To prevent eye infection, instill antibiotic eye drops at regular intervals. Notify Hashmanis eye bank at the soonest.
There is temporary bleeding caused within the area from where eyes are collected, just in case the entire eyeball is obtained. The medical team works with high precision, eyes are properly closed to save lots of any disfigurement. There’s another method where rather than the entire eyeball only the cornea is collected. This is often also later replaced by a plastic cornea to cause no disfigurement.
Hashmanis Eye bank acknowledges the donor’s family with a certificate of appreciation. The medical team takes the collected eyes to the eye bank for examination. The examination includes different tests by the corneal surgeon on the tissue. As per the waiting list, recipient of the eyes is contacted eye transplant.
Yes, people affected by diabetes and even a cancer patient can become an eye donor. Also, people with glasses and people diagnosed with hypertension can donate their eyes.
Yes, he can as long as the cornea isn’t damaged or injured. So an individual with future retinal or optic nerve damage isn’t a right candidate for eye donor because the cornea can be damaged. If the cornea is okay, then even an individual with retinal or optic nerve disease can donate his eyes.
No, a living person cannot donate his eyes and it’s against the principles and regulations.
Yes, the kin of the dead person can give the consent for eye donation by informing the officials of Hashmanis eye bank. The relatives or the family has got to sign the form to complete the procedure to donate after the donor’s demise if not pledged or registered earlier.
No, the person pledging to donate the eyes doesn’t have to pay anything for the donation process.
No, it won’t cause any delay within the funeral arrangement because the entire procedure takes only 15- 20 minutes.
No, the donor’s family, also because the recipient, won’t be informed about the details of each other. It’s done under strict rules and regulations and therefore the details of the person are well secured with Hashmanis donation center.
No. The removal of corneas/eyes doesn’t cause disfigurement.
17% of the adults in Pakistan suffers from diabetics. 30% of the patients have uncontrolled diabetics that later develop into diabetic retinopathy, an irreversible blindness.
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