Eye hospital appeals for cornea

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Colombo National Eye Hospital appeals to public to get registered themselves to donate cornea (eyes). There is a shortage of cornea in the Colombo National Eye Hospital and over 500 patients are in the waiting list to obtain corneas, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the number of patients who need cornea transplant go up daily but the Eye Hospital receive cornea only through the Colombo National Hospital. The nearest relation of the persons who die at the Colombo National Hospital can donate cornea to the Eye Hospital.

The eye hospital is now in the process of implementing the same strategy in other State hospitals to remedy this situation, he said.

The people can now get themselves registered at the Colombo National Eye Hospital to donate cornea after death.

The first ever eye bank in Sri Lanka is now open at the National Eye Hospital, Colombo. The eye bank will provide high quality corneas to Sri Lankans who need cornea transplant and patients from other countries especially for the patients in Asian countries, he said. Corneas can be stored for a period of 14 days in a container imported from Singapore. The Bank sends cornea to other hospitals on request. Surgeries are being carried out since its opening in January, he added.