AIIMS Eye Bank Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three Hospitals
AIIMS' eye bank partners with three hospitals to enhance corneal tissue collection for transplants.
The National Eye Bank at AIIMS in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by signing agreements with three hospitals: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital. This collaboration is part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP) aimed at increasing the availability of donor corneas for transplantation.
Enhancing Corneal Transplantation Efforts
The eye bank, renowned for handling a substantial volume of corneal transplants, collected 2,167 corneas in 2025, out of which 1,775 were used for transplants. The HCRP, which accounted for 81.9% of these corneas, involves trained counsellors and technicians who identify potential donors and coordinate with families for cornea retrieval. Over the years, the eye bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and facilitated over 28,000 successful transplants.
Innovations in Corneal Surgery
AIIMS has been at the forefront of adopting advanced surgical techniques, performing 631 optical keratoplasties in 2025. The centre has also embraced Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), a sutureless procedure that transplants only the functional endothelial membrane, offering faster recovery for patients with endothelial dysfunction.
Community Engagement and Future Plans
During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight, AIIMS highlighted its advancements, including a digital death-notification system and an online eye donation pledge platform, which saw 100 new pledges last year. The eye bank also distributed over 4,652 vials of its ExStorSol corneal preservation medium to 130 eye banks across 24 states in 2025-26. Additionally, a RayMed-supported initiative is underway to procure corneal tissue for pediatric keratoplasty.
AIIMS has furthered its commitment to eye care through a five-year partnership with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres in Delhi-NCR and a Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. Recognized with a National Award for its contributions, the eye bank continues to honor donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their support.