AIIMS Eye Bank Expands Cornea Retrieval Network with Three Hospitals
AIIMS' National Eye Bank partners with three hospitals to boost corneal tissue procurement, enhancing transplant capabilities.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has strengthened its cornea retrieval network by partnering with three additional hospitals. This move is part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), aimed at increasing the availability of donor tissue for corneal transplants.
New Partnerships to Enhance Corneal Tissue Procurement
The eye bank has signed 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 partnerships will focus on corneal tissue procurement, research, and training initiatives under the HCRP. The program, a hospital-based initiative, empowers eye-bank counselors and technicians to identify potential donors, counsel families, and facilitate cornea retrievals efficiently.
Significant Achievements in Corneal Transplants
AIIMS has a robust record of performing over 1,300 corneal transplants annually for four consecutive years. In 2025 alone, the eye bank collected 2,167 corneas and conducted transplants on 1,775 patients suffering from corneal blindness. The HCRP was responsible for retrieving 81.9% of the donated corneas. Over its 61-year history, the eye bank has collected more than 38,000 corneas and facilitated visual rehabilitation for over 28,000 individuals through transplants.
Innovations and Future Plans
The eye bank has embraced advanced techniques such as the sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), which transplants only the functional endothelial membrane for patients with specific conditions, offering quicker visual recovery. In 2025, the center successfully performed 631 optical keratoplasties.
In addition to its clinical achievements, AIIMS has enhanced its operational efficiency with a fully online death-notification system, enabling rapid contact with bereaved families. The eye bank also offers an online eye-donation pledge system, with 100 pledges made over the past year. Furthermore, it distributed over 4,652 vials of its indigenous corneal preservation medium, ExStorSol, to 130 eye banks across 24 states in 2025-26.
Community Engagement and Awards
The AIIMS eye bank has been recognized for its contributions to eye banking, receiving a national award last year. During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight, the center honored donor families, partner hospitals, NGOs, and collaborating eye banks for their support. Looking ahead, AIIMS is collaborating with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR, alongside a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children.