The document discusses guidelines for eye banks in India's National Programme for Control of Blindness. The objective is to promote eye banking through government and non-government organizations to obtain adequate corneal tissue for transplants. Eligibility criteria for eye banks include experience providing eye care or collecting a minimum number of eyeballs. Infrastructure requirements and assistance provided include funds for equipment, staffing, and a certain amount per collected eyeball pair. Data shows increasing eyeball collection from 2008-2015 but utilization rates vary from 30-70% with over 50% of collected eyeballs in one state not used for transplants. Suggestions to increase collection and utilization include expanded awareness campaigns and improved coordination between donation centers and eye banks.

1. National Programme for Control of Blindness
Presented by:- Dr. Siddhartha Niyogi
ADHS (Ophth.) & SPO – NPCB, WB
Contact No:- 98301 87870 (M)
033 2357 4074 (O)

2. NPCB Guideline for Eye Bank
• Objective
– The objective of this scheme is to promote Eye
banking activity in the country through
Government facilities / NGOs to get adequate
tissue for corneal transplantation for treatment of
corneal blindness.

3. NPCB Guideline for Eye Bank
Eligibility criteria :
The organization should:
– Satisfy general eligibility conditions mentioned i.e. should be
registered under Society Act, CE Licence Act etc.
– Should fit into the definition of Eye Bank as mentioned.
– Organizations having experience in providing eye care services will
be given preference.
– Should have collected at-least 100 Eye Balls in any of the preceding
two years of application.
– In case of difficult terrain (eg. North eastern states), relaxed criteria
of 25 Pair of Eyes shall be applicable
OR
– Should have conducted at least 600 cataract operations including
other eye disease operations in the proceeding two years. In case
of difficult terrain (eg. North eastern states), relaxed criteria of 300
cataract operation including other eye disease operations shall be
applicable.

4. NPCB Guideline for Eye Bank
Infrastructure Requirement:
• Manpower Requirement:
– Ophthalmic Surgeons (Full time / on Panel) 1
– Ophthalmic Technician 1
– Eye Donation Counsellor / Social Worker /
Health Educator / Clerk 2

5. NPCB Guideline for Eye Bank
Required Equipment/Furnishing
– Slit Lamp Microscope
– Specular Microscope
– Laminar Flow
– Serology Equipment
– Instruments for corneal excision and enucleation including containers
– Autoclave
– Keratoplasty instruments
– Transport Facility ( One 2 Wheeler)
– Refrigerator
– Computer & Accessories
– Telephone Line
– Air-Conditioner
– Renovation, Repair, Furniture & Fixtures

6. Pattern of Assistance for 12th Five Year Plan
Assistance provided by GOI under NPCB for
Eye Banks & Eye Donation Centers
 Recurring assistance to the Eye Bank @ Rs. 2,000/- per pair of eyes
would be paid towards consumables including preservation material &
media, transportation/ travel cost/POL and contingencies. The Eye Bank
will reimburse to the Eye Donation Center @ Rs. 1,000/- per pair of
eyes for the eyes collected by them. No fund would be released to the
Eye Donation Center directly.
 Recurring assistance of Rs. 15,000/- per month for appointment of one
Eye Donation Counselor on contract.

7. Pattern of Assistance for 12th Five Year Plan
Assistance provided by GOI under NPCB for
Eye Banks & Eye Donation Centers
 Non-recurring assistance upto Rs. 25 lakh for equipments and
furnishing towards Strengthening / developing Government Eye Bank.
 Non-recurring assistance upto Rs.1 lakh for strengthening/developing
Eye Donation Centre.

8. Eye Ball Collection & Utilization
from 2008 – 09 upto 2014 – 15 (June’ 14)
Year
April – March
Target set
by GOI
No. of
Cornea
Collected
No. of
Cornea Used
for
Keratoplasty
Utilization
Percentage
2008 – 09 2500 1370 509 37.6%
2009 - 10 3000 1682 680 40.4%
2010 - 11 3500 2152 1242 57.71%
2011 - 12 3500 2920 1535 52.57%
2012 - 13 3000 3039 1437 47.29%
2013 – 14 3000 3355 1985 56.48%
2014 – 15
(upto June’ 14)
3000 694 396 57.06%

9. Eye Ball Collection & Utilization
from 2008 – 09 upto 2013 - 14
1147
1258
1614
1259
1370
1682
2152
2920
3039
3355
304
498
736
376
509
680
1242
1535
1437
1895
26.50
39.50
45.60
29.80
37.60
40.40
57.71
52.57
47.29
56.50
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2004 - 05 2005 - 06 2006 – 07 2007 - 08 2008 - 09 2009 - 10 2010 - 11 2011 - 12 2012 - 13 2013 - 14
Utilization %
No. of Corneas
Year
No. of Cornea Collected No. of Cornea Used for Keratoplasty Utilization Percentage

10. Observations
• It is observed that there is a wide variation between
collection of donated eyes and its utilization. It varies
from around 30% to 70%.
• In our State itself more than 50% of the collected
corneas are not utilized for keratoplasty.
• The increase in cornea collection in the Sate is due to
performance of Eye Banks and Eye Donation Centers in
the Govt. & NGO Sectors is due to effective
implementation of HCRP (Hospital Corneal Retrival
Programme).

11. Suggestive steps to increase
cornea collection and utilization
• More and continuous IEC programme to generate awareness
among mass at rural areas. The IEC programmes should be
conducted by Govt. as well as NGO sectors.
• There should be a tie up of Eye Donation Centers with the
nearest Eye Bank so that the loss of time between collection
and transplantation of cornea could be minimized and
corneas could be used effectively.
• The Eye Banks at NGO Sectors should implement HCRP and
coordinate with the nearest Govt. Hospitals for collection of
cornea.