AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank partners with three hospitals to enhance corneal tissue procurement, boosting transplants and research.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with three additional hospitals. This strategic move aims to bolster the availability of donor tissue for corneal transplants under the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP).
New Partnerships to Enhance Corneal Transplants
The newly added partners include the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital. These collaborations are set to enhance corneal tissue procurement, research, and training, thereby addressing the high demand for corneal transplants.
In 2025, the eye bank collected 2,167 corneas, facilitating transplants for 1,775 patients with corneal blindness. An impressive 81.9% of these corneas were retrieved through the HCRP. The programme's hospital-based approach allows eye-bank counsellors and technicians to identify potential donors, counsel grieving families, and retrieve corneas efficiently.
Advancements and Achievements in Eye Banking
Over its 61-year history, the eye bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and helped visually rehabilitate over 28,000 individuals through transplants. The centre has also trained over 500 ophthalmologists in advanced corneal transplantation techniques. In 2025 alone, it performed 631 optical keratoplasties and has transitioned to the sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), which allows for faster visual recovery.
AIIMS highlighted these achievements at the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight event, where they also showcased a fully online death-notification system to expedite donor contact and an online eye-donation pledge system. Last year, 100 individuals pledged their eyes through this initiative.
Broader Impact and Future Initiatives
The eye bank distributed over 4,652 vials of its indigenous corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states during 2025-26. Additionally, a RayMed-supported project is aiding the procurement of corneal tissue for paediatric keratoplasty.
Looking ahead, AIIMS has launched a five-year collaboration with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. The National Eye Bank, recognized with a National Award for its contributions to eye banking, continues to honor donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their support.