Page 176 - July-August 2020

AIIMS REPORTS HUGE DECREASE IN CORNEAL

TRANSPLANTS

As a result of the Covid-19 According to Dr J S Titiyal, ducted 934 corneal transplant
pandemic, eye donations have chairman, National Eye Bank, surgeries. This year, this number
seen a drastic fall at All India AIIMS, eye banking has been slid to 339.
Institute for Medical Sciences adversely affected by the
(AIIMS), New Delhi. Data shared pandemic. “When the Covid Dr Namrata Sharma, profes-
by the hospital, which runs one outbreak started to peak in April, sor of ophthalmology at AIIMS,
of the most active eye transplant we had to temporarily suspend who is also the secretary of the
programmes in India, shows retrieval of corneal tissue and Eye Bank Association of India,
only 450 cornea donations this put all planned corneal trans- said that around two lakh cor-
year between January and July plants on hold. This resulted in a neas are required in India every
against 1,244 in the correspond- big reduction in donations and year, but only around 55,000
ing period of 2019. transplants conducted at the corneas are available due to lax
institute,” Titiyal said.
Nationally too, fewer donations. The EBAI secretary
donations have led to a serious The new guidelines for the appealed to people to donate
shortage of the corneal tissue retrieval of cornea require Covid the eyes of the deceased family
needed for transplants to restore testing and other measures, members. “This act will go a long
vision in people suffering from which are seen as disincentives way in helping the cornea-blind
loss of eyesight due to irrepara- to donors. Last year, between tide over this hour of darkness,”
ble damage of the tissue. January and July, AIIMS con- she said.

WHAT IS HETEROCHROMIA?

Sometimes, people have different of light entering the eye. When there
coloured eyes. This eye condition is is bright light, the iris closes the
called Heterochromia, a condition pupil to let in less light. Therefore,
in which an individual’s irises are some people have blue eyes, light
differently coloured. It can be either brown eyes or dark brown eyes. “In
congenital (present at birth) or most people, the colour depends
acquired later in life (through an on genetic factors, but it could also
injury or a disease). It occurs mainly in indicate an eye problem. The second
humans, and in certain breeds of cats condition can be if you start noticing
and dogs. a change in your eye colour as you

This year on 12, July which turn older and it’s not from birth.
was designated as National The third condition is called Albinism
Different Coloured Eyes Day, or Albino. It happens to people
Dr Raja Narayanan, honorary who are completely fair, even their
secretary, Vitreo Retina Society eyebrows and hair are white,” Dr Raja
(VRSI), Hyderabad, informed that elaborated.
Heterochromia is a rare eye condition When asked if the condition
that is seen in only one per cent of required treatment, Dr Ramesh
the human population. “For most Kekunnaya, Head, Child Sight
people it is a natural difference in Institute, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Some celebrities who have
colours like skin colour or hair colour. said, “No treatment is required unless different coloured eyes are Mila
The colour of our eyes is determined there is Albinism etc. Heterochromia Kunis, Angelina Jolie, Demi
by the amount of pigment in the iris,” of iris only in one eye warrants a Moore, Kate Bosworth, Kiefer
he explained. Sutherland, Henry Cavill, Benedict
thorough check-up to rule out any Cumberbatch, Christopher Walken
The iris helps regulate the amount eye, neurological or systemic issues.” and Karishma Mani.

| JULY-AUG 2020 | 172 NEWS IN BRIEF