Patna : The AIIMS Patna Eye Bank has completed its 100th corneal transplant since being commissioned in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s efforts to provide corneal transplantation services and address corneal blindness in Bihar and surrounding regions.
The milestone was marked on the occasion of World Sight Day 2026. Since its commissioning, the Eye Bank has received 118 eye donations, providing valuable corneal tissue for transplantation and helping patients affected by corneal blindness regain the possibility of useful vision.
100 Corneal Transplants Since May 2025
The achievement has been made possible through coordinated efforts by the Department of Ophthalmology and the AIIMS Patna Eye Bank, along with personnel from the ICU, HDU and various wards.
Nursing officers, operation theatre personnel and other supporting staff have also contributed to counselling families for eye donation, corneal retrieval, tissue preservation and transplantation.
Prof. (Brig.) Dr. Raju Agarwal, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Patna, congratulated the Eye Bank team on completing the 100th corneal transplant.
He emphasised the importance of community participation and voluntary eye donation in reducing the burden of corneal blindness and urged the department to increase the number of corneal transplants so that more patients can benefit.
AIIMS Patna Leadership Congratulates Team
Dean (Academic) Prof. (Dr.) Punam Prasad Bhadani and Prof. (Dr.) Prashant Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS Patna, also congratulated the Eye Bank team.
They appreciated its continued efforts to strengthen eye banking and corneal transplantation services at the institute.
Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Pandey, Dean (Research), AIIMS Patna, and Prof. (Dr.) Anup Kumar, former Medical Superintendent, also congratulated the Eye Bank and Department of Ophthalmology.
They highlighted the role of eye donation in restoring sight and improving the quality of life of patients affected by corneal blindness.
118 Eye Donations Since Commissioning
The milestone also recognises the contribution of eye donors and their families, whose voluntary donations have made corneal transplantation possible for patients in need.
AIIMS Patna said every eye donation represents an opportunity to restore vision and provide hope to a person affected by corneal blindness.
The institute has continued to encourage people to come forward and support voluntary eye donation as part of efforts to expand access to corneal transplantation.
Faculty Members Attend Programme
Several faculty members from different departments of AIIMS Patna attended the programme, reflecting multidisciplinary support for eye donation and corneal transplantation.
Those present included Prof. (Dr.) Chandani Sinha from Anaesthesia; Prof. (Dr.) Amit Patil and Prof. (Dr.) Binay Kumar from Forensic Medicine; Prof. (Dr.) Jyoti Prakash from General Medicine; Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Pandey from PMR; Prof. (Dr.) Utpal Anand from Gastro Surgery; Dr. Sambhu Kumar from Psychiatry; Prof. (Dr.) Chaitanya Mittal from Forensic Medicine; Dr. Kamlesh Gunjan from Urology; and Dr. Rakhee Gupta from Dermatology.
Their participation reflected the wider institutional support for eye donation awareness and corneal transplantation services.
Ophthalmology Team Leads Programme
The programme was conducted by Dr. Divya Kesarwani, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, with active participation from Dr. Sony Sinha, Additional Professor; Dr. Bhawesh Chandra Saha, Associate Professor; Dr. Dev Kant, Associate Professor; and Dr. Amit Kumar, Associate Professor.
Faculty members, senior residents, junior residents, interns, optometrists, Eye Bank technicians-cum-counsellors, nursing officers and other supporting staff also participated.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Bhawesh Chandra Saha, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology. He expressed gratitude to the Executive Director, Deans, faculty members, residents, nursing officers, Eye Bank team and other departments for their support and participation.
AIIMS Patna said it would continue encouraging voluntary eye donation and strengthening corneal transplantation services to help more patients affected by corneal blindness.
