MB#37: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖.

[MemoirBlogthon#37] Inspired by our family's experience and my father's advocacy following my mother's eye donation, we believe it is crucial to share the practical, time-sensitive information required for this noble act to be successful.

MB#37: The family's experience and the father's advocacy.

The Core Principle: Time is Vision

Eye donation is a profound humanitarian gesture, but the process is extremely time-sensitive.

In India, donated eyes must be retrieved from the body within 6 to 8 hours of death to ensure the cornea tissue remains viable for transplantation. For the best possible results, the nearest eye bank should be contacted immediately after the passing of a loved one.

The Essential Requirements

• Consent: The family must give verbal and written consent for the donation.

• Who Removes the Eyes: A team dispatched by a registered eye bank, which includes a trained medical technician or an ophthalmologist.

• Location: The eye bank team will travel to the location where the death occurred, whether it is a home, hospital, or nursing home.

• Process Timeline: The removal must take place ideally within 4 to 6 hours of death to be viable.

Steps to Take Immediately After Death

To maximize the viability of the donation while awaiting the arrival of the eye bank team, the family should take the following steps:

1. Contact the Nearest Eye Bank: Call the registered eye bank immediately to notify them of the death and request a retrieval team.

2. Cover the Eyes: Gently close the eyelids and cover the eyes with a clean, wet cloth.

3. Switch Off Fans: Switch off any overhead fans to prevent the delicate corneal tissue from drying out.

4. Elevate the Head: Place a pillow underneath the head to raise it slightly. This helps minimize swelling and preserve the tissue.

By taking these critical, time-sensitive steps, a family can ensure their loved one's final act of charity is successful, fulfilling the goal to combat corneal blindness and granting sight to two individuals.

MB#37: Quiz

MB37-Question: The author's father became an advocate for eye donation following which major family event?

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• A. His own health scare.
• B. The mother's eye donation.
• C. A community awareness program.
• D. His 80th birthday.

MB#37: Quote

"To see is to believe, but to enable others to see is the greatest gift of all."