AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS eye bank enhances its cornea retrieval network by partnering with three hospitals in Delhi, aiming to boost corneal transplant availability.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by incorporating three more hospitals into its fold. This strategic move aims to enhance the availability of donor corneal tissue for transplantation, a crucial need for patients with corneal blindness.
New Partnerships Strengthen Cornea Retrieval
AIIMS has formalized partnerships through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 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 part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), which focuses on corneal tissue procurement, research, and training.
In 2025, AIIMS managed to collect 2,167 corneas, facilitating transplants for 1,775 patients suffering from corneal blindness. The HCRP was responsible for retrieving 81.9% of these corneas, illustrating the program's effectiveness in identifying and securing donor tissues.
Innovations and Achievements in Corneal Transplants
The eye bank has been at the forefront of corneal transplantation, consistently performing over 1,300 transplants annually for the past four years. In 2025 alone, the center executed 631 optical keratoplasties. The introduction of sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) has marked a significant advancement, allowing faster visual recovery by transplanting only the necessary endothelial membrane in suitable patients.
AIIMS has also implemented a fully online death-notification system to expedite contact with bereaved families, alongside an online pledge system for eye donations. Over the past year, 100 individuals pledged their eyes, underscoring the community's growing awareness and involvement.
Expanding Reach and Resources
Beyond corneal transplants, AIIMS has supplied over 4,652 vials of its indigenous corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states during 2025-26. This distribution effort supports the preservation and transportation of corneal tissues nationwide.
In partnership with Vision-Aid, AIIMS is establishing 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children, aiming to broaden access to eye care services.
The National Eye Bank's contributions to eye banking were recognized with a National Award last year. During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight, AIIMS honored donor families, partner hospitals, NGOs, and eye banks for their roles in supporting eye donation and transplantation efforts.