INTERNATIONAL EYE DONATION DAY – A COLLECTIVE CALL TO LIGHT
On the occasion of International Eye Donation Day, members and doctors of the Rotary community — Rtn. Dr. Nisheeta Agarwala, PP Dr. Rumi Jehangir, Rtn. Ptn. Dr. Sonia Kothari, Rtn. Dr. Cyres Mehta — came together not only as Rotarians, but as compassionate advocates for sight. Their unified voices inspired a heartfelt appeal to support the cause of eye donation and bring awareness to this life-transforming movement.
With significant advances in corneal transplant surgery and high success rates, one donor can change the lives of four individuals — taking them from darkness to light. Eye donation is open to almost everyone, regardless of age, religion, or medical history. Eyes are donated only after death, and even those who wear spectacles or have had certain illnesses can be eligible donors.
Importantly, eye donation is a quick and respectful procedure that does not disfigure the face. Despite a growing need — with nearly one lakh eyes required annually in India — only around 50,000 are currently donated. The demand continues to rise, and the supply must catch up.
To support this cause, all attendees were encouraged to collect and complete a Family Pledge Card, one half is meant to be kept by the donor, and the other handed to a close relative as a gentle reminder of their wish to donate their eyes after death.
Let us come together and pledge to be ambassadors of the eye donation movement — restoring vision, spreading light, and offering a lasting legacy of hope to those in need.