Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103116040300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Barnala calls for eye donation pledge

Staff Reporter

Lauds efforts of Lions Eye Bank, which had given 5,400 people the gift of sight

CHENNAI: Every one should pledge to donate their eyes, Governor S.S. Barnala said on Monday.

"I have already pledged to donate my eyes to the Chennai Eye Bank," Mr. Barnala told the gathering at the silver jubilee celebration of Chennai Lions Eye Bank Trust.

Recalling that he had earlier pledged his eyes at a similar function, he said, "Eye donation is no sacrifice. When one is not living it is not a sacrifice. They [the eyes] are taken away after your death." He lauded the efforts of Lions Eye Bank, which had given more than 5,400 people with corneal blindness the gift of sight. He encouraged the Lions Eye Bank's efforts in procuring corneas for transplant saying, "I am confident that with more eye donations and coordinators working at various hospitals, the eye bank will be able to procure more than three pairs of eyes per day so as to get 1,000 pairs of eyes a year." Mr. Barnala released a CD and a book on eye banking at the function.

The programme was held at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology-Government Ophthalmic Hospital Research Foundation.