Aizawl, Sep 8 (PTI) Thirty-three students in Mizoram have pledged to donate their eyes after death, taking the total number of such registered donors to 9,345, an official said on Tuesday.
The increase reflects growing awareness of corneal donation in the state, Health and Family Welfare Principal Director Dr Lalthlengliani said.
Mizoram’s eye bank was inaugurated on July 31 in 2008, while the state’s first successful corneal transplant was performed on September 25 in 2009, she said.
Cornea donation is a time-sensitive process in which the clear outer layer of a deceased person’s eye is used to restore sight to someone with corneal blindness.
Previously, the eye bank had 9,312 registered donors, while 400 people had registered as recipients, she said.
“With 33 students who pledged to donate their eyes during the 41st Eye Donation Fortnight programme held in Aizawl on Monday, the total number of registered and pledged donors has risen to 9,345, the official said.
She said that 632 people have so far donated their eyes after death.
Lalthlengliani also said that certificates of appreciation were presented to the families of 67 donors whose eyes were donated during the 2025-26 year.
According to the official, the Mizoram eye bank has retrieved 42 corneas during the current fiscal year up to July, with 23 corneal transplants already performed. PTI CORR BDC
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.