DOI: 10.4103/dljo.dljo_158_25 ISSN: 0972-0200

Demographics and Trends: Unveiling a Decade of Corneal Donation

Pooja Gupta, Sneha Budania, Anuj Mehta, Lopamudra Sarkar, Saanchal Sethi, Rekha Yadav, Anurag Narula
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Abstract

Aim:

The aim of this study was to analyze corneal donor demographics and trends in eye donation and compare voluntary eye donation (VED) with the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program (HCRP).

Design:

This was a retrospective observational study.

Methods:

The study was conducted in an institutional eye bank to analyze data of 321 cornea donors from January 2015 to December 2024. Variables studied were donor demographics, cause of death, death–retrieval time (DRT), source of donation, and seropositivity rate.

Results:

Six hundred and forty-one corneas were retrieved from 321 donors. Male predominance (69.2%) was noted. The mean donor age was 51.3 ± 21 years. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular disease (24.6%) and road traffic accidents (21.8%). There was a dip in collection in 2020–2021 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Maximum corneas were collected in 2024 ( n = 113), with peak donations during winter months. HCRP accounted for 80%, while VED contributed 20%. A statistically significant association was observed between the source of donation and DRT (χ 2 , P < 0.0001). Donors from the HCRP nonmedicolegal case (non-MLC) group had the highest proportion of early retrieval (<4 h, 77.4%), followed by VED (53.1%). In contrast, the cornea of only 14.1% of donors from the HCRP MLC group was retrieved within 4 h. Seropositivity was observed in 4.6%. Serology could not be done for 12 donors due to hemolysis of the sample or lack of test kits.

Conclusion:

A streamlined retrieval protocol for MLCs is needed to avoid delay. Gaps in serological screening highlight the need for infrastructure upgrades. Campaigns should be conducted to increase VED and sensitize hospital staff to uplift HCRP.

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