Nagpur: The Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) has set an ambitious target of securing one lakh eye donations annually by 2030, announced its president, Dr JKS Parihar, at the 15th National Conference on Cornea and Eye Banking at ABO Eye Institute on Saturday.Stressing the urgent need to bridge the gap between the demand and availability of corneal tissue, Dr Parihar called for a collective effort by medical professionals, policymakers, and the community at large.“Every year, lakhs of people in India suffer from corneal blindness, but the availability of donor eyes remains far below the requirement. Our goal of one lakh donations annually is realistic and achievable if we intensify awareness campaigns, expand infrastructure, and encourage families to come forward and pledge,” he said. Dr Parihar emphasised that eye donation should evolve into a mass social movement, with technology, innovative outreach, and youth engagement playing a pivotal role.City-based eye surgeon Dr Gopal Arora drew attention to the challenges at the grassroots level. He observed that while awareness has steadily increased in urban centres, a deep-rooted stigma and lack of information continue to hinder progress in semi-urban and rural areas.“We need to decentralise facilities, train more professionals, and ensure that every pledged donation results in a successful retrieval and transplant,” Dr Arora noted.The conference also highlighted innovative approaches to spreading awareness, including youth-led campaigns and the introduction of Augmented Reality art for the first time in India to promote eye donation. Experts agreed that a combination of medical advancements, policy support, and public participation would be crucial in achieving the 2030 target.EBAI members reiterated that reaching the milestone of one lakh donations annually would not only restore vision for millions but also place India among global leaders in corneal transplantation. With Nagpur hosting this year’s conference, the city has become a focal point of the nationwide campaign to transform eye donation into a mass social responsibility.Both Dr Parihar and Dr Arora also urged the government to provide greater funding and institutional support to strengthen the eye donation movement, enabling wider outreach and faster implementation of critical infrastructure.The conference was inaugurated in the presence of NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, as chief guest, executive director of AIIMS-Nagpur Dr PP Joshi as guest of honour, Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) chief Dr Vinky Rughwani and civil surgeon Dr Nivrutti Rathod. Dr Arora welcomed delegates while Dr Parihar delivered the presidential address. Dr Sujata Das outlined EBAI activities. Dr GN Rao, Dr Vasundhara Kalewar, Dr Anita Panda, Jashwant Mehta, and Gautam Majmudar were honoured on the occasion.
