AIIMS Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank partners with three hospitals to boost cornea retrieval and transplantation efforts.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi is enhancing its cornea retrieval capabilities by integrating three additional hospitals into its network. This strategic move aims to increase the availability of donor tissues for corneal transplants, which are critical for restoring vision in patients with corneal blindness.
New Partnerships for Enhanced Corneal Retrieval
AIIMS has formalized partnerships through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 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), designed to facilitate corneal tissue procurement, research, and training.
The HCRP has proven effective, with 81.9% of the 2,167 corneas collected in 2025 being retrieved through this program. This hospital-based initiative involves trained eye-bank counsellors and technicians who identify potential donors and counsel bereaved families, enabling timely retrieval of corneas.
Rising Demand and Technological Advancements
In 2025, the AIIMS eye bank performed 1,775 transplants, marking a consistent annual achievement of over 1,300 procedures for four years. The center has also embraced advanced techniques such as sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), which offers faster visual recovery for patients with endothelial dysfunction.
Over its 61-year history, the eye bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and assisted in the visual rehabilitation of over 28,000 individuals. Furthermore, it has provided training to over 500 ophthalmologists in modern corneal transplantation techniques.
Innovations and Community Engagement
AIIMS has implemented a fully online death-notification system to expedite communication with donor families and an online platform for eye donation pledges. In the past year, 100 individuals have pledged to donate their eyes.
The eye bank is also involved in a RayMed-supported initiative to secure corneal tissues for pediatric keratoplasty from other eye banks. Additionally, AIIMS has partnered with Vision-Aid to establish ten Integrated Vision Centres and a Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children in the Delhi-NCR region.
AIIMS's contributions to eye banking were recognized with a national award last year. The institution continues to honor donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their collaborative efforts.