AIIMS Eye Bank Expands Cornea Retrieval with Three New Hospitals
AIIMS National Eye Bank strengthens its cornea retrieval network by partnering with three hospitals to enhance donor tissue availability.
The National Eye Bank at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has expanded its cornea retrieval network by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with three additional hospitals. This development aims to increase the availability of donor corneal tissue for transplantation.
New Partnerships to Boost Corneal Transplants
This year, the eye bank has partnered with Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, and Northern Railway Central Hospital. These collaborations are part of the AIIMS-Delhi Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP), a hospital-based initiative designed to identify potential donors, counsel bereaved families, and facilitate the retrieval of corneas. The eye bank collected 2,167 corneas in 2025, performing 1,775 transplants, with 81.9% of the corneas retrieved through the HCRP.
Advancements in Corneal Transplant Techniques
Over the past four years, the eye bank has consistently performed more than 1,300 corneal transplants annually. It has also transitioned to advanced techniques such as sutureless Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), which allows for quicker visual rehabilitation by transplanting only the functional endothelial membrane in suitable patients. In 2025, the center performed 631 optical keratoplasties.
Commitment to Innovation and Training
The AIIMS National Eye Bank has been a leader in corneal transplantation, having collected over 38,000 corneas and rehabilitated more than 28,000 individuals visually. Additionally, it has trained over 500 ophthalmologists in advanced techniques. A fully online death-notification system and an eye-donation pledge system have been introduced to streamline operations and encourage donations. In the past year, 100 individuals have pledged their eyes.
Furthermore, the eye bank has distributed more than 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 helping procure corneal tissue from other eye banks for pediatric keratoplasty.
Future Initiatives and Collaborations
AIIMS has announced a five-year collaboration with Vision-Aid to establish 10 Integrated Vision Centres across Delhi-NCR and a dedicated Cerebral Visual Impairment Resource Centre for children. The eye bank, which received a national award last year for its contributions, continues to honor donor families, hospitals, NGOs, and partner eye banks for their support.