AIIMS Expands Corneal Retrieval Network with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank strengthens corneal transplant efforts by adding three hospitals to its retrieval network, boosting donor tissue availability.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its corneal retrieval network by incorporating three additional hospitals. This strategic move aims to enhance the availability of donor tissues for corneal transplants, a crucial medical procedure that restores vision for patients with corneal blindness.
New Partnerships to Boost Corneal Transplants
AIIMS has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the 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), which focuses on corneal tissue procurement, research, and training. The HCRP has been instrumental in facilitating a significant number of corneal transplants each year.
In 2025, the eye bank collected 2,167 corneas and performed 1,775 transplants, with 81.9% of the corneas retrieved through the HCRP. This hospital-based program empowers eye-bank counsellors and technicians to identify potential donors, counsel bereaved families, and efficiently retrieve corneas at hospitals.
Historical Achievements and Advanced Techniques
Over its 61-year history, the National Eye Bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and successfully rehabilitated over 28,000 individuals through transplantation. It has also trained over 500 ophthalmologists in advanced corneal transplantation techniques, such as Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). This sutureless technique, which involves transplanting only the functional endothelial membrane, allows for faster visual rehabilitation in patients with endothelial dysfunction.
In 2025 alone, the center performed 631 optical keratoplasties. The eye bank also highlighted its innovations during the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight program at AIIMS, including a fully online death-notification system to expedite contact with bereaved families and an online eye-donation pledge system.
Collaborations and Future Initiatives
AIIMS has also contributed to the distribution of over 4,652 vials of its indigenous corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states during the 2025-26 period. A project supported by RayMed is underway to facilitate the procurement of corneal tissue from other eye banks for pediatric keratoplasty.
Additionally, AIIMS has entered into a five-year partnership with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across the Delhi-NCR region 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.