Mohali :
Civil Surgeon Dr. Sangeeta Jain has appealed to residents to come forward and contribute to the eye donation campaign by pledging their eyes and encouraging family members, relatives and friends to participate in the noble cause.
The District Health Department is observing the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight from August 25 to September 8 to raise awareness about the importance of eye donation. Dr. Jain said that donating eyes after death can help restore vision for people suffering from corneal blindness.
She urged people to fill out the required consent form to pledge their eyes. The forms are available at government health institutions, while online pledging can also be done through the NOTTO portal. For further information, residents can contact the Health Department helpline at 104.
Dr. Jain said a person of any age can pledge to donate their eyes, including those who wear spectacles or have undergone eye surgery, subject to medical eligibility. Donated corneas are generally retrieved within 6 to 8 hours after death, and the procedure takes around 10–15 minutes without causing visible disfigurement to the face.
She also clarified that the decision to donate eyes is made during one’s lifetime, but the actual retrieval takes place only after death. People suffering from certain serious or infectious diseases may not be eligible for donation.
