AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospital Partners
AIIMS National Eye Bank has partnered with three hospitals to enhance cornea retrieval and transplantation capabilities.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by partnering with three additional hospitals. The new collaborations aim to boost the availability of donor corneas for transplantation.
New Partnerships for Corneal Tissue Procurement
The AIIMS eye bank has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital. These agreements focus on corneal tissue procurement, research, and training under the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP).
In 2025, the eye bank collected 2,167 corneas and performed 1,775 transplants, with 81.9% of the corneas sourced through the HCRP. This hospital-based initiative allows eye-bank counsellors and technicians to identify potential donors, counsel families, and retrieve corneas directly at hospital facilities.
Achievements and Innovations in Corneal Transplantation
Over the past 61 years, AIIMS has collected over 38,000 corneas and performed more than 28,000 successful corneal transplants. The eye bank has also trained over 500 ophthalmologists in advanced corneal transplantation techniques. In 2025 alone, it conducted 631 optical keratoplasties and has transitioned to sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), a procedure allowing faster visual rehabilitation.
The eye bank's initiatives were highlighted at the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight programme. Innovations include a fully online death-notification system for quicker family contact and an online eye-donation pledge system, which saw 100 pledges in the past year.
Support and Future Plans
AIIMS also distributed more than 4,652 vials of its ExStorSol corneal preservation medium to 130 eye banks across 24 states in the 2025-26 period. A RayMed-supported project is underway to procure corneal tissue from other eye banks for pediatric keratoplasty.
Additionally, AIIMS has embarked on a five-year partnership with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. This initiative underscores AIIMS's commitment to expanding its eye care services and enhancing the quality of vision care.
The National Eye Bank, which received a national award last year for its contributions to eye banking, continues to honor donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their support and collaboration.