AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank partners with three hospitals to boost cornea availability for transplants.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has fortified its cornea retrieval network by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with three additional hospitals. The newly joined institutions include Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital. These collaborations are part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), aimed at enhancing corneal tissue procurement, research, and training.
Strengthening Corneal Transplant Efforts
This strategic expansion is crucial for addressing the high demand for corneal transplants. Last year, the eye bank successfully collected 2,167 corneas and facilitated transplants for 1,775 patients suffering from corneal blindness. The HCRP played a significant role, contributing to 81.9% of the retrieved corneas. The program empowers eye-bank counsellors and technicians to identify potential donors and retrieve corneas directly from hospitals.
Advancements in Corneal Transplantation Techniques
The National Eye Bank has been at the forefront of adopting advanced transplantation techniques. In 2025, it performed 631 optical keratoplasties and has increasingly utilized Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), a sutureless procedure that transplants only the functional endothelial membrane. This technique is particularly beneficial for patients with endothelial dysfunction, allowing for quicker visual recovery.
Innovations and Future Plans
The eye bank has also embraced technological innovations, such as a fully online death-notification system to expedite contact with potential donor families and an online eye donation pledge system, which saw 100 new pledges last year. Additionally, the eye bank supplied over 4,652 vials of its indigenous corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states during 2025-26.
In collaboration with Vision-Aid, AIIMS is set to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres throughout Delhi-NCR and a specialized Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. These initiatives are part of a five-year partnership aimed at improving vision care accessibility.
Last year, the National Eye Bank received a prestigious national award for its outstanding contributions to eye banking. During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight event, the eye bank recognized the efforts of donor families, partner hospitals, NGOs, and eye banks for their vital roles in eye donation and transplantation.