AIIMS Eye Bank Expands Cornea Retrieval with 3 New Hospital Partners
AIIMS National Eye Bank has partnered with three hospitals to boost corneal tissue procurement and transplantation.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by partnering with three additional hospitals. This strategic move aims to enhance the availability of donor tissue for corneal transplants, which are vital for restoring vision to those with corneal blindness.
New Collaborations to Boost Cornea Collection
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 are part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), focusing on corneal tissue procurement, research, and training.
In 2025, the National Eye Bank collected 2,167 corneas, performing transplants on 1,775 patients, with 81.9% of the corneas sourced through the HCRP. The program's success relies on trained eye-bank counsellors and technicians who identify potential donors and retrieve corneas from hospitals efficiently.
Advancements and Achievements
Over its 61-year history, the eye bank has collected over 38,000 corneas and facilitated visual rehabilitation for more than 28,000 individuals. It has trained over 500 ophthalmologists in advanced corneal transplantation techniques. In a significant advancement, the center performed 631 optical keratoplasties in 2025 and has adopted sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), which offers faster visual recovery for patients with endothelial dysfunction.
Innovative Systems and Future Plans
The eye bank introduced a fully online death-notification system to expedite contact with bereaved families, alongside an online eye-donation pledge system. Last year, 100 individuals pledged their eyes through this initiative. Moreover, the eye bank distributed over 4,652 vials of its ExStorSol corneal preservation medium to 130 eye banks across 24 states in 2025-26.
In collaboration with Vision-Aid, AIIMS plans to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. These initiatives are part of a five-year partnership aimed at enhancing vision care accessibility.
The National Eye Bank's contributions were recognized with a national award last year. During the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight, the eye bank honored donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their support.