Eye Donation Awareness and Conversion Rate in Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme in a Tertiary Hospital of Central India

Abstract

Introduction: Corneal blindness accounts for 6-8 million blinds in the world. In India, it is estimated that there are approximately 6.8 million people who have vision less than 6/60 in at least one eye due to corneal diseases. Aim:This study was done to assess the awareness about eye donation amongst attendants of critically ill and deceased patients, their willingness to donate eyes, the efficacy of grief counselling by Eye Donation Counsellors (EDC), its impact on the conversion rate and the reasons for poor donation rate. Materials and Methods:This prospective hospital based study was done in 554 participants (guardians of critically ill and deceased subjects) to understand the awareness of eye donation. Factors related to willingness for eye donation that influenced conversion to actual donation were evaluated. Data was analysed with tests for statistical significance: Chi square test; p<0.05 at 95% confidence interval was set as significant.Results: Awareness index particularly in males <40 years, was found to be statistically more. In participants who were partially/fully aware of eye-donation, time taken for motivation remained less than 12 hours, which was statistically significant (Chi square=106. p<0.001). Subject who were aware, willing for donation in comparison to those who were unaware in a ratio of 2:1. Grief counsellors (57.5%) had the most influence among the causes that were facilitators of donation. Conclusion:Utilizing the services of eye donation counsellors is a promising way to motivate the guardians of deceased. Increasing the awareness in society, rendering simple assistances to next of kin and speeding the medico legal formalities can go a long way in increasing the conversion rate and hence actual donation.

Awareness and attitudes toward corneal donation: challenges and opportunities

“…74 , 75 Sharma et al conducted a prospective study in which grief counselors identified 554 critically ill patients and discussed the topic of eye donation with their families. 76 In a follow up survey, the grief counselors had the largest influence on the decision to donate. In a separate pilot intervention, counselors from a regional eye bank were notified of every hospital death and reached out to the next of kin to discuss the possibility of eye donation.…”

Donor profile and trends of eye donation in Central India

“…Source of motivation for corneal donation was counselling in a study by Acharya, et al in which about 41% participants were willing to donate cornea after counselling [13]. Sharma, et al in their study observed 61 (57.5%) cases where the willingness come post direct motivation by grief counselors [6]. Yew, et al concluded that imparting proper knowledge about eye donation can increase the corneal retrieval [14].…”

“…The effective treatment with high success rate in restoring sight among patients with corneal blindness include corneal transplantation.National Programme for control of blindness (NPCB), initiated by Government of India through its continuous efforts tried to reduce the backlog of preventable corneal blindness through comprehensive eye care services, including corneal transplantation [5]. However, even after increasing awareness of corneal donation, the number of donors remains much lower and also waiting period for corneal transplantation remains high at most hospitals across the country [6]. Apart from the efforts of increasing awareness, the Eye Bank Association of India also made efforts to increase the corneal procurement rate over several years.…”

Transplante de córnea no Brasil: progresso e dificuldades em 16 anos

“…que impulsiona os pacientes a submeterem-se a cirurgia 12,13,27,28 . Contudo, estima-se que cerca de 53% da população necessitada não tenha acesso ao TC 28 , principalmente porque que as taxas de doação de córnea não acompanham a demanda crescente pelo TC [29][30][31] .…”

“…Logo, estudos epidemiológicos são necessários para mapear a situação da oferta e da demanda pelo TC no Brasil, apontar deficiências e dificuldades a serem superadas, divulgar a importância da notificação de potenciais doadores e discutir estratégias para aumentar a conversão desses em doadores efetivos, a fim de reduzir as filas de espera por TC [29][30][31] .…”