LUCKNOW: The longing for light emanates from the most profound darkness. Turning this proverb true, a student from Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University has shown the way to fight blindness in UP. First year student in MA History, Ekta Pandey has pledged to donate her eyes to King George's Medical University's eye bank. What makes her effort exemplary is that the girl is visually challenged.



"She expressed her desire at an awareness lecture held in the university. Everyone told her that her wish would never come true as she was blind," said Dr Arun Sharma, faculty who heads KGMU eye bank. The girl lost vision to a brain tumor at the age of 12. She urged the health team to see if she could donate her eyes.

"On examining her, we found that vision loss had occurred due to optic nerve damage while her cornea was healthy and intact," said Dr Sharma. She completed the formalities and became a role model for others. Sharing her feelings, Ekta said, "I have seen the world for 12 years and have lived without vision for a decade now...I know this painful contrast, therefore, want to gift sight to someone."



The girl's effort is notable considering a dismal corneal donation scenario in UP. Statistics show that out of 57,250 eyes collected across India in 2014-15, only 700 were from UP. Experts say awareness has improved the number of pledges but more than 95% commitments do not translate into actual donation. For example, at KGMU, only 50 of estimated 10,000 people finally donate their eye. "At this rate, we restore sight in 100 patients when at least 1,000 can benefit," said Dr Sharma.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Cornea-intact-sight-impaired-pledges-eye/articleshow/48660036.cms