Doctors restore eye sight of 2 individuals after corneal transplants

Srinagar, Oct 03 : The Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Jammu successfully performed two corneal transplantations on Tuesday, enabling two individuals to regain their vision after a long time.
The surgeries were carried out under the SOTTO programme, and were led by Dr Elias Sharma, Dr Ashok Sharma, the Professor and Head of the Department, along with his team of skilled surgeons.
He said the operations were supported by Dr Palak Gupta (Registrar) and Dr Malvika Sharma (Registrar), with assistance from Rifat (Senior Staff Nurse) and Akarshan (MTS), who efficiently coordinated the retrieval of the donor eyes.
The donor corneas were meticulously transported, stored, and transplanted under the supervision of Dr Hans Raj Sharma (Professor), who navigated through various challenges alongside Dr Nalini. The recipients included a 47-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.
In recognition of its eye bank, corneal transplant, and retrieval facility, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, recently awarded the Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Jammu with registration for its Transplantation of Human Organs Act and Tissues Act 1994, THOTA, in J&K. The registration is valid for five years.
“Since March last year, the department has successfully performed numerous renal and corneal procedures, a testament to our commitment to providing advanced medical care,” the official said.
He said despite the disparity between the demand and availability of organs and tissues in Jammu & Kashmir, the Renal and Corneal transplant program at GMC Jammu continues to thrive. The scarcity of organ donations from deceased individuals is a challenge faced by the region, he added.
“However, as the donation of organs from deceased persons is very rare in Jammu and Kashmir, only individuals who are alive typically donate their organs, particularly their eyes,” the official said, adding that there is a pressing need for organ donation in J&K and only the donation of organs by deceased persons can fulfill the gap between demand and supply, allowing patients with liver, heart, and kidney failure to receive treatment.”