Let your eyes live another life : Dr Ashok Sharma
Mahabodhi-Ladakh supports the cause of Eye Donation
Chandigarh, 27 August, 2012, Specttrum News: Blindness is the worst tragedy human beings may suffer. It is unfortunate but one has to bear the sea of darkness. One may be surprised to know that out of world’s total 4 crore blind population, one third reside in India alone. Corneal blindness accounts for 25% of total 1.5 crore blinds in our country. Infections, injuries, malnutrition, degenerations and dystrophies are important causes of corneal blindness. Cause may be any, but remedy is simple and that is corneal grafting. This was stated by renowned Cornea specialist Dr Ashok Sharma at Chandigarh Press Club here today, while launching the Eye Donation Campaign.
Dr Ashok Sharma, Director, Cornea Centre & City Eye Bank, Sector 22, Chandigarh, said, “In corneal grafting the central part of the opaque cornea, what we call “phola“ in the local language, is removed and replaced with similar circular disc obtained from the healthy donor eye. India needs 2 lakh donor eyes per year to take care of corneal blinds in our country. We are able to collect 25,000 donor eyes per year. It is disheartening that compared to other zones, number of eye donations in North India are less. Even if 1% people of total deaths donate eyes we can get sufficient donor eyes.”
www.corneacentre.com
The cause is being supported by Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh-Ladakh. The students of MIMC Girls Hostel, displaying placards with slogans of ‘Donate Eyes’, expressed their support for this noble cause. Buddhist Monk and founder president of MIMC, Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, in his message said, “Blindness due to corneal diseases assumes more significance as it affects the young population in developing countries. This deprives them off the educational and vocational opportunities. I appeal all the people to pledge their eyes. I am happy to know that Cornea Centre has been doing commendable job in eradicating corneal blindness.”
Col. (Retd) Vijay S Jamwal, Executive President, MIMC Chandigarh Branch, said, “Our Leh campus has a hostel for visually handicapped children, which was inaugurated by the then President of India, Dr Abdul Kalam. Eye donation is a noble cause and all of us must pledge our eyes, so that more and more blind people can see the light of the day.”
Dr Ashok Sharma, former Associate Professor of PGI Chandigarh, has been performing corneal grafting for more than 25 years. He has been able to restore eyesight to more than 2500 blind individuals through corneal grafting. He advised that one must keep eyes and hands clean to avoid eyes related disease. Eye donation fortnight is observed every year from 25 August to 8 September to create awareness.
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