About the society

The Eye Bank Society Of Rajasthan (EBSR) was formed in the year 2002 by a group of retired civil servants and Social workers. It is dedicated to spreading awareness about Eye Donation & restoration of eyesight of corneally blind people. It is implementing National Programme of Eradication of Corneal Blindness. It is a Non-Government, Non-Profit making organization, registered under the Rajasthan Society Act (1958) and also under Human Organ Transplant Act (1994). It is authorized to undertake all functions related to Eye Banking, under HOTA.

The functions and role of an Eye Bank revolves around the basic concept that corneal blindness is treatable through Donor Corneas. If a person dies then his cornea can be used for transplanting on a corneally blind person if it is retrieved within a period of 6 to 8 hours of death.

The members of the EBSR proactively shoulder the responsibility of counselling the families of the deceased as well as organisation of awareness programmes. Of course, professionally trained staff of the EBSR also actively participates in all these activities. Today the organization has the support of over 100 members at Jaipur. Moreover, its centres also have good support of local members. A large number of well-wishers are a source of our strength.

Initially we started our activities in the SMS hospital Jaipur. As we gained experience in the field of eye banking, our activities were expanded to other cities of the state with active involvement of local social workers and philanthropists. Presently we have Chapters /Eye Collection Centres at Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Pali, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Bundi cities. They function under the overall guidance of the parent body at Jaipur. Their main functions are to undertake awareness campaigns and collection of corneas.

Trained Eye Donation Counsellors cum Technician are posted in all our centres. They regularly counsel the family members of the deceased persons to obtain their consent to retrieve the corneas. We have also a tollfree number where any person, willing to donate the cornea, can contact us. Our technician would immediately reach his place and retrieve the cornea. The retrieval process takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

All corneas are sent to Jaipur for processing and distribution. Here the corneas are evaluated in a well-equipped modern lab in our office. The Medical Director, an expert Ophthalmologist Keratoplasty Surgeon, finally certifies the suitability of corneas for transplant. The certified tissues are provided to hospitals/Ophthalmologists for transplants to corneal blind persons.