Armed with requisite approvals, Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) will soon become the third hospital in the city to offer Eye Bank (Corneal Bank) and eye transplantation services.

The hospital has received approval to start the Eye Bank and perform corneal transplants.

Till now only AIIMS and Hamidia Hospital had the approvals for Eye Bank and eye transplant services.

Dr Manisha Srivastava, in-charge director of BMHRC, expressed happiness over the achievement, saying, "This is an important step for our hospital and the citizens of Bhopal. The launch of services like eye donation and corneal transplantation will bring a new light of hope into the lives of our patients. Not only will it be useful for patients with vision loss, but it will also serve as an opportunity to raise awareness about eye donation in society."

She added, "BMHRC is planning to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign about eye donation and transplantation soon. This campaign will include seminars, workshops, and other activities to highlight the importance of eye donation in society. Along with this, we will work with our expert team of doctors to ensure that the best services are provided to the patients."

Dr Hemlata Yadav, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at BMHRC, said that work has started on creating a list of people willing to donate eyes. We have also set up a separate phone number, 0755—2920132, for the Eye Bank. Those interested in eye donation can contact this number for more information.

Additionally, we will run an awareness campaign to educate the patients and their families who visit the hospital. "We already have a list of visually impaired patients in need. Any visually impaired person can come to the ophthalmology department of BMHRC, get their examination done, and register their name," Dr Yadav added.

Dr Srivastava explained that the donation of one person's eyes can restore the sight of two blind individuals. The Eye Bank and Corneal Transplant Centre play a crucial role in bringing new light into the lives of visually impaired people.

The Eye Bank is responsible for preserving the corneas received through eye donation and preparing them for transplantation. Corneal transplants help restore lost vision in people who have become blind due to accidents, infections, or illnesses. This service is a blessing for patients who have lost their sight due to these causes.