AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank partners with three hospitals to boost corneal tissue retrieval and transplants.
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. These collaborations aim to enhance the availability of donor tissues for corneal transplants. The new partnerships have been established with Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital.
Strengthening Corneal Transplant Efforts
This strategic move is part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), which focuses on the procurement of corneal tissues, research, and training. In 2025, the eye bank collected 2,167 corneas and facilitated transplants for 1,775 individuals with corneal blindness. The HCRP accounted for 81.9% of the corneas retrieved that year.
The hospital-based programme empowers eye-bank counsellors and technicians to identify potential donors, counsel bereaved families, and efficiently retrieve corneas. Over its 61-year history, the AIIMS eye bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and helped restore vision to over 28,000 people through transplantation.
Advancements in Corneal Transplantation
The AIIMS eye bank has been at the forefront of adopting advanced techniques in corneal transplantation. In 2025, it performed 631 optical keratoplasties and transitioned to sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). This innovative procedure involves transplanting only the functional endothelial membrane, offering faster visual rehabilitation for patients with endothelial dysfunction.
During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight programme, AIIMS highlighted its achievements, including the implementation of a fully online death-notification system to streamline contact with bereaved families and an online eye-donation pledge system. In the past year, 100 individuals pledged their eyes to the eye bank.
Expanding Reach and Resources
AIIMS has also expanded its reach by supplying over 4,652 vials of its proprietary corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states during 2025-26. A project supported by RayMed is helping to procure corneal tissues from other eye banks for paediatric keratoplasty.
In addition, AIIMS has entered a five-year partnership with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. These initiatives further demonstrate AIIMS's commitment to advancing eye care and treatment options.
The National Eye Bank's contributions to eye banking were recognized with a National Award last year. During the recent event, AIIMS also honored donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their invaluable support.