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Over 7,000 eyes donated last year, restoring vision to those in need



By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo,January 14 (Daily Mirror) - A total of 7,144 eyes were donated last year, providing the gift of sight to individuals in need, according to the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society.

Eye donation is a life-changing act that restores vision to millions of people suffering from blindness or vision impairment.

Not everyone has the privilege of clear vision, and many live without experiencing the joy of sight. Unfortunately, this disparity continues even after death, as many eyes are not donated to help those who could benefit from them.

The Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society's Sampath De Silva speaking to the Daily Mirror  reported that 3,163 foreigners and 1,475 Sri Lankans have contributed by donating their eyes, offering the gift of sight to people in need.

He also highlighted that the eyes donated by Sri Lankans have helped restore vision to people from 57 different countries, including Yemen, Egypt, Japan and Korea, giving them a chance to see again.

The cost of facilitating one vision restoration through the use of a donated eye is Rs. 25,000. This includes the procedures for harvesting, preserving and transplanting the corneas to those in need.

However, Sampath De Silva stated that there is no cost for the public to make eye donations. The process is completely free for those who choose to donate.

Additionally, a total of 2,230,000 individuals have committed to donating their eyes in the future, enhancing efforts to provide the gift of sight to those suffering from blindness and visual impairment.

Since 1961, it has been reported that 160,000 people have had their blindness restored.

In 2024, a total of 1,025 foreigners and Sri Lankans received eyelid surgery.

When a person passes away and their family agrees to donate their eyes, each hospital has a designated in-charge responsible for managing the donation process. After the eyes are donated, they are sent to the Eye Society’s laboratory for preservation and can be used for transplants within 14 days.

The Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society continues to encourage public awareness about the importance of eye donation, with hopes to restore vision for many more individuals in the future.



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