AIM

There are 1.5 million corneally blind people in India. Statistically we should get approximately 1 lakh eyes per annum. There are 400 eye banks in India, which collect only 22 thousand eyes per annum. The aim in 2005 was collection of 22 thousand eyes while target for 2020 is 4 lakhs eye donation There are many cases which go unreported and hence the corneally blind people are likely to be much more than what is reported and and hence the situation is much grave. Till date the treatment of the corneally blind people is corneal grafting. Corneal grafting means that the blind person’s opaque cornea is exchanged with the transparent cornea which is donated by the generous dead people and their next of kin. Since the treatment is only possible by the donated eyes, it is essential that there should be an “eye donation awareness, actual eye donation and performing the corneal grafting programme in this area. It is world wide accepted that the non governmental voluntary organization have a pivotal role to play. So our registered charitable trust is a step in this direction.

EYE BANK         

Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank is situated at Purulia Road, Ranchi. It is in Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital. At present it is in approximately 600 square feet area and occupies a very prominent place in Kashyap Eye Hospital complex. It will not go unnoticed if you happened to cross this area. 

Apart from many other charitable works "Eye donation and cornea grafting "remains the top priority and the main work.

PERSONNEL'S IN EYE BANK

Administrative Director
Dr. B. P. Kashyap is the Administrative Director of the Eye Bank. He has done his M.B.B.S from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, one of the pioneer medical colleges in India.

He has done his diploma is Ophthalmology from RMCH, Ranchi. Passed his master of Surgery (Ophthalmology) from RMCH, Fellowship in contact lenses from Kolkata, under the guidance of Dr. H. M. Shah who is a pioneer in contact lenses in India. Fellowship in Retina Vitreous in Ahmedabad under the guidance of Dr. P. N. Nagpal at Retina Foundation whose surgical skill is internationally recognized.

Observer at clinical institute of Ophthalmology in Kiryu, Japan under the guidance of Dr. Aikra Momose .Subject of interest was Cornea Grafting, Radial keratotomy and Intra ocular lens implant.

Observer at department of Ophthalmology at Ohio State University, U.S.A. and the subject of interest was Retina and Vitreous, Corneal Grafting & Intra Ocular Lenses.

Observer at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute., Hyderabad for Retina Vitreous Surgeries.
 

Medical Director
Dr. Bharti Kashyap is the Medical Director. She has completed her M.B.B.S. from RMCH, Ranchi with three Honours.  Observer at department of Ophthalmology at Ohio State University, U.S.A.

She has done her Master of Surgery (from RMCH) in Ophthalmology. She has done her short term fellowship in Occuloplsty at Institute of medical sciences, Rajendra Prasad Institute of Ophthalmic Science, New Delhi under the guidance of Dr. S. M. Betharia. a legend in Occuloplasty in India.

She has done her short term fellowship in Squint and Amblyopia at R. P. Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, New Delhi. She has done her short term fellowship in Cornea at L.V. Prasad eye Institute, Hyderabad. She has done her Advanced Laser training of Retina at Arivinda Eye Hospital, Coimbatore.
 

Executive Director
Mr. Atil Kapoor, 48 years age, of Purulia Road, builder by profession is the Executive Director.

Eye Bank Manager
Mr. Aamir Anwar is the Eye Bank Manager who has attended lot of workshops for the purpose of eye banking.

Eye Bank In-charge
Mr. Vikas Sinha is the Eye Bank in-charge of Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital.

Eye Bank Technician
Mr. Ajay Kumar Bharti, Mr. Vinod Kumar and Mr. Deepak Kumar the Eye Bank Technician. They are specially trained for eye banking by Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital.
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Eye Bank Councilors
A very active woman and is attached to other hospitals also as a part time worker. Miss Binita Kujur is the Councilor.

Administrative Secretary
Mr. Anil Kr. Kashyap is the Administrative Secretary. He is otherwise engaged in practicing law.

Other Doctors attached with the Eye Bank                                                                         
Dr. Rimpika Mahajan, M.S. (Eye)
Dr. Anand Thakur, M.S. (Eye)
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, M.S. (Eye)

These doctors are apart from Dr B. P. Kashyap and Dr Bharti Kashyap . They make such a team that some Ophthalmologists are always available for the Eye Enucleation round the clock.

Public Relation Officer
Md. Shamim Ahmed is the Public Relation Officer. Since the turnover of the eyes are too less compare to eye banks in Maharashtra and other states, all the personnel’s are working voluntarily and without charging any money. This has never deterred them from dedication towards the Eye Banking. The whole team is ready to remove the eyes even in mid nights and “bands” called from different organization at different times.




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HISTORY OF EYE BANK
It was Late Dr. Bharat Prasad Kashyap, Professor and Head of the Department (Eye) Rajendra Medical and Hospital now RIIMS Ranchi who realized the grave situation of corneally blind people. He met Dr. Peter Anderson of Australia in one of the blind relief camps and the ball started rolling. With the help of the Australian doctor Late Prof. Kashyap could procure six corneas from Australia. Prof. Bharat Prasad Kashyap grafted those four corneas on 1^st Jan. 1979. Looking at the positive results a number of efforts were made to revise the corneal grafting but for some or the other reasons nothing actually materialized. Though Lot of Eye banks came into existence and but all of them remained defunct for years.  

Later in the year 1991 Dr Birendra Prasad Kashyap and Dr Bharti Kashyap formed Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank and charitable trust, which got associated with Eye Bank Association of India. The very first Life member from the whole Eastern India Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank and charitable trust received its membership No. LEI.

As the time passed the working personnel headed by Dr. Bharti Kashyap, the managing trustee and medical director of the eye bank trust increased and the Eye Bank got the Institutional membership in 1996.

In the year 1995 after a long gap of 16 years the eye bank got the 1^st locally retrieved Pair of eyes of Mr. H. N. Prasad who had already pledged his eyes before his demise. Since then the Eye Bank Trust has kept on receiving donors responses. Presently the eye bank has 192 eye donations to its credit. To promote people to come forward donating their eyes for the noble human cause the trust regularly organizes several programmes. Netra Daan Maha Daan is one to name with.
 

ACTIVITIES OF EYE BANK

Blind Relief Camps
Every year we hold blind relief camps in different areas along with different organization.
Initially we did simple cataract operation without intra ocular lenses. But we stopped doing simple cataract operations without IOL since 1998. Now all the cataract operations are done with IOLs.
Lately since 1999 all the operations for cataract are operated with no stitch technique which the latest in cataract surgery of course with IOLs.

At. Blind Relief Camps -- At Blind relief camps we not only screen the patients for cataracts but we also prepare a list for corneally blind people. We also make them aware of eye donation and the importance of eye Donation.

Now in blind relief camps -- We make people aware of Eye Donation. We prepare the list of Corneally Blind People. Take their full  postal Address and Telephone No. if possible or any contact phone number. We bring all the Cataract patients in groups of 10s and operate them with Phakoemulsification with intra ocular lenses. It has really revolutionized the visual rehabilitation of the every poor people. After all, why a poor person should have an inferior visual recovery just because he is economically weak?
 

School Screening
School screening has received much importance these days and truly it should have  been. In school screening we train the school teachers to take the vision of the students which is of prime importance. Less vision because of refractive errors, other congenital ocular abnormalities, trauma. Vitamin A deficiencies were found to be the cause of concern and they were treated accordingly. Students were given speeches for the Diets to avoid Vitamin. A deficiency. They are told about the precautions while playing to avoid eye injury. They were made aware of Eye Donations. We have received tremendous response not only from the student but also from the teachers and principals alike.
 

Diabetic Retinopathy project with IAS Wives Association
We have treated 20 poor patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy with Laser treatment and Costly Intravitreal Avastine injections. We have targeted Diabetic population in slum areas, as it is the avoidable blindness and priority area in VISION 2020 Project.
 

Rural Areas
When we say rural areas, we mean really remote areas where poor people having the eye care facility like in urban areas is just unthinkable. And we love to help this kind of poor people. We also mean the area which is supposed to be terrorist infested areas and many Government Aids remain very difficult to reach them.


Association with Other NGOs
We are in close association with different associations  for the noble cause. They  help us in locating the rural areas and the poor people. They contribute with the man power at the site and for organizing the different groups of patients for the cataract. They also keep the tract of the corneally blind people. Many have also contributed with cash and kinds,  mostly with kinds.
 

Works Done So Far : Areas Covered
 

School Covered
 

Special Mention
We are proud to mention Special Cases

•  A much talked about Rajdhani Express accident Victim, a young girl of 25 years donated her eyes. Her husband's cooperation can not be forgotten for the contribution in eliminating the corneal blind people through donating the eyes of newly wedded wife.

Scientific Papers and Research
In close association with the Eye Bank Association of India we have presented several scientific papers at different conferences and Symposia.

We do not Charge (It is free of Cost)
If a person dies and if he or she donates eyes means two valuable eyes.  Many good centers in India charge Rs. 20,000/= per eye for corneal grafting.
So after the donation from one person we do corneal grafting in two cases amounting to a work of Rs.40,000/= which is absolutely free.  On the top of that if the patients is not able to purchase their medicines many a times we help them to purchases their medicines or give them medicines from our side.

Corneal grafting does not mean only exchanging the cornea but also correcting any any abnormality to get them good vision. It may include operation for cataract, Vitrectomy operations, Glaucoma operations etc.

Instruments Available at Eye Bank

• Instrument for corneal Excision and Enucleation : Six sets

• Autoclave: for sterilization is available along with ETO Sterilizer and Hot Air Oven and Flash Autoclave.

• Contact: Tel.- 0651-2531188, 2531255  Mob.- 9431107627,   9431174937, 9431107626
  These telephones are maintained in such a way that it is in functional position all the time.
  Unfortunately telephone no. 1919 is with some defunct Eye Bank. We are in a process to get that number with us.
  Since we are available on cell phone we have abolished the post of telephone operator.

Storage Facility of the Eye Bank

Refrigerator
It remains the vital instrument to preserve the eye after it is removed from the body of the dead body. We have the fridge.

M. K. Medium
The eye is supposed to be removed from the body within six hours of the death otherwise it looses it's  utility and the cornea turns opaque. After the removal the eye, it can be kept in a close moist chamber at 4 degree centigrade. This way the eye can remain useful for 24 hours.
We have M.K. Medium. If the eye is processed and the corneal button  is kept in the M.K. Medium. The cornea can be preserved up to 4 to 5 days. M.K. Medium is world wide and the most popular way to preserve the cornea.

Network and Communication of Staff
The moment there is a news of eye donation we have to act very fast so that we could reach at the site within one hour of the information. We all are so well connected that even at midnight all the necessary staff and eye banking personnel are ready within 20 minutes of the information. We are proud of our dedicated team of eye bank.

Instruments for Eye Removal
We have Six sets of eye removing instruments  which is kept ready after being ETO sterilization. Once sterilizes it does not require resterilization for six months if not opened up and used for the operation.

Eye Transportation Kit/Bag
After the eyes are removed it is kept in a special kind of carrying bag. We have four sets so that the eyes can reach the eye bank safely without damaging the cornea.

Blood Test for HIV, Hep-B, Hep-A and Syphilis
Our team has expertise in removal of the blood from the dead body for the test of HIV, Hep B, Hep A and Syphilis which is mandatory. After the removal of the blood it kept properly so that it reaches the Pathologists Clinic safely for proper test so that the infection does not travel from donor to the recipient.

Scleral Ring for Infection Test (Culture and Sensitivity Test)
At the time of corneal grafting the rest of the part of the eye (Scleral ring) is sent for the test of any infection so that the infection does not travel from donor to the recipient.

Corneal Grafting Proper
We use mostly the disposable instrument for the corneal grafting purpose. It avoids infection, it avoids improper cut edges of the corneal buttons.

Stitches
We use 10/0 nylon stitches for corneal grafting which is world wide accepted. The method of stitching is also followed according to the latest in vogue.

Microscope
We have the world's best microscope Leica 500. This microscope is kept in Kashyap eye hospital where all the operation takes place.

Slit Lamp
Before the eye is considered fit to be transplanted it is examined under the slit lamp to see if there is any defect in the donor cornea.

Laminar Flow Hood
Since the  processing of the corneal Ring for the preservation in the M. K. Medium is done in the Operation Theater under strict sterile condition, the necessary of the laminar flow is not considered However we are trying to get one.

Other Operation Facility
 The recipient of the eye might require operation for cataract, vitrectomy or glaucoma or for any other eye ailment. We have the facility for the same.

Other Facilities

Transportation Facility
It is available so that we can reach the destination of eye Enucleation at any time of the day or night. We have the Boxes to carry the enucleated eyes to the eye bank safely.

Furniture Computer with E-mail Facility
Furniture is available for the functioning of the eye bank. The computer with latest configuration is available for the purpose of Eye Banking. The web/E-Mail addresses are  www.kashyapmemorialeyehospital.com/eyebank@kashyapeyehospital.com, rch_kashyap@sancharnet.in . 

Public Information Material
We have slides, posters etc. for the information and awareness of the Eye Donation.

Forms for Tissue Retrieval, Tissue Evaluation and Distribution
It is available with our eye bank.

Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme
We are associated with different hospitals. In case of any death and the close relatives interested in corneal grafting, calls us up and our team goes to remove the eye ball. The hospitals are Nagarmal Modi Seva Sadan and Raj Hospital. We are in constant touch with different hospitals also.

Financial Sustainability
A part of the Eye Bank is "Eye Donation Awareness Club". The popularity of this club is increasing and many people are desirous to become the member. This ( EDAC) will take care of the finance and eye awareness programme. Eye Bank is situated at  Kashyap Eye Hospital Complex. This makes it easier for any immediate requirements. But we will definitely require financial help for up- gradations and for purchase of some costly items for the Eye Bank.   

Serological Tests                   
We do Test for Hepatitis-B, Test for HIV. For these tests we send the blood to the pathologists who are kind enough to do these tests free of cost.

Culture and Sensitivity Test
The donor's cornea scleral rim after taking out the corneal button is sent for culture and sensitivity test.

Specular Microscope
We have  specular microscope which has been granted by the Govt..

Recipients List
It is very necessary to have the list of the patients waiting for the corneal grafting. We have a waiting list of the patients along with their addresses and the telephone number. We have also the record of the patients' Eye ailment with full details of the patients. Some eyes  may be useless for some but may be useful for somebody. It really helped us a lot and almost 98% of the eyes are utilized.

Media Support
We are really very thankful to the electronic media, news paper who have given us whole hearted support. None of our corneal grafting has gone unreported. This helps us in propagating more of eye donation. A part from eye donation we have received good faith from general people that the eye donated to us are well utilized without any partiality or discrimination of any kind.

DONORS LIST
 

RECIPIENTS LIST

Eye donation pledge cards received  : 3500
Actual Eye donation received : 192 Eyes
Actual corneal grafting done  : 162 Eyes
(Some cornea utilized in Glycerin preserve cornea operation)