Awareness regarding Eye Donation among Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospital, Jammu, J&K, North India-Time to Educate People

Abstract

Introduction: It is observed that corneal blindness affects 12% of world's population which is amenable to treatment and main causes of corneal blindness are ocular trauma and corneal ulceration. The alarming figures rise every year, keeping India in the lead. The mainstay of treatment for restoring vision in such patients is corneal transplantation. In India awareness about eye donation in public is very low as per literature review. Hence creation of awareness carries paramount importance. Aim: To evaluate the level of awareness regarding eye donation among eye OPD patients at a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: The present cross sectional study involved 256 patients who presented to the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital, were willing to participate, were requested to fill the semi-structure pilot tested questionnaire form on eye donation pertaining to awareness of eye donation. But out of 256 patients, 56 patients were not aware of eye donation and filled form incompletely so it was discarded. Thus, total of 200 patients included in the present study. Results: The results showed that 60% participants were not aware of an eye bank in GMC Jammu. Awareness through television was maximum i.e. 50%. About 45% of participants knew that whole eyeball is removed in eye donation. There is no age limit for eye donation was answered by 22% of participants. Only 26% of participants were aware that eyes of any dead person can't be removed for donation whereas 42.5% of participants knew that a person with diabetes/ hypertension can donate eyes. 80% were willing to donate their eyes. Conclusion: There is gross lack of awareness about eye donation among patients attending eye outpatient department. Education on organ donation is a must for the society.Media campaign can play a commendable role to reach out to the masses for optimum benefit. Therefore, there is a need for awareness of eye donation in an effort to increase the procurement of donor corneas.

Knowledge and attitude about eye donation amongst anganwadi workers in a rural block of Pune district in India: a quasi experimental study

“…In the present study, 72% AWWs were aware that there is no age-criteria for eye donation which was greater than the study by Manhas et al (22%) in OPD patients and it doesn't cause any disfigurement of face (70%) which was greater to that of study in paramedical workers (27%). 16,17 This shows that AWWs can be able to alter these misconceptions regarding eye donation in rural community. Our study observed that only 38.3% AWWs knew about care of eyes to be taken after death for donating eyes which changed to 95.3% after intervention.…”

“…15,18 and less than the study by Manhas et al (100%) in OPD patients. 16 Donor's consent is not mandatory but the consent of family member/relatives is required after death for eye donation. The study observed that 73.26% AWWs were aware that if the person has not pledged for eyes, his relatives can donate eyes after his death was similar to the study in paramedical workers and greater than the study by Bhandary et al (55.6%), the study by Gupta et al (8.5%) and by Khan et al (56.5%).…”

Awareness and attitude towards eye donation among rural population

“…259 transplantation. 4 As per the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB), prevalence of corneal blindness in India is 0.9%, 6 cases are expected to rise from 6.8 million to 10 million by 2020. 2 Due to insufficient number of eye donations in India, the gap between donor and recipient keeps on growing 30,000 cases are added every year.…”

“…2 Thus, number of patients waiting for corneal transplantation is keeps on increasing. 6 Eye donation is voluntary donation of one's eyes after his/her death. As per Eye Bank Association of India current corneal procurement rate is 49,000 per year, 2 however large number of these cornea are deemed unfit for transplantation donor corneas are unfit for corneal transplantation.…”

“…4 Awareness and Attitude of the population towards eye donation is the key for successful eye donation. 6 Lack of these maybe due various reasons. People willing to pledge their eyes for donation and their relatives to honor that pledge upon the death of the person are two important aspects of eye donations.…”