IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy (e)-ISSN: 2250-3013, (p)-ISSN: 2319-4219 www.iosrphr.org Volume 4, Issue 4 (April 2014), PP.11-16 11 Eye banking and corneal transplantation in Tertiary care hospital located in rural area Sonu Lohiya 1 , Ruchita Attal 2 , Pradeep Bokariya 3 1 Associate Professor, Ophthalmology Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences 2 Assistant Professor, Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences 3 Assistant Professor, Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences ABSTRACT : Considering the magnitude of corneal blindness and shortage of donor material, more marked in rural area this study about eye banking and corneal transplantation was conducted in tertiary care hospital located in rural area. This study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram from January 2008 to December 2012.It is a hospital based prospective study. Keywords – Eye Banking, Corneal Transplant I. INTRODUCTION As a highly specialized tissue, the cornea is avascular, refractive and almost unique in its transparency There are an estimated 4.9 million bilaterally corneal blind persons worldwide who could potentially have their sight restored through corneal transplantation[1 ]. Unilateral corneal blindness is not captured in WHO data, but is estimated to occur in 23 million globally, based on India's bilateral-unilateral ratios of 0.1% to 0.56% prevalence.[2 ] More startling is the rate of new unilateral corneal blindness cases, with one prospective study in Nepal indicating an annual incidence of corneal ulceration to be 799 per 100,000 people, primarily unilateral ulcerations.[3 ] In a southern India-based study, corneal blindness has been projected to grow from 0.66% (2001) to 0.84% (2020) prevalence, largely from unilateral cases. Eye donation is again very less in rural area because of illiteracy, poverty, superstitions and lack of knowledge and communication in rural area. In 1906, Zirm achieved the first successful penetrating corneal graft in human. Considering the magnitude of corneal blindness and shortage of donor material, more marked in rural area this study about eye banking and corneal transplantation was conducted in tertiary care hospital located in rural area. II. MATERIAL AND METHOD This study on was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram from January 2008 to December 2012.It is a hospital based prospective study All new conseutive patient attending the out patients department of ophthalmology were screened for corneal disorders and visual status. After complete ocular examination and required investigations Patients suffering from corneal blindness were registered in cornea clinic.80 patients operated for PK at our institute between January 2008 to December 2012 and those who completed at least one year follow up were included for analysis and were reviewed for demographic data, indications for keratoplasty, surgical techniques, postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative refraction, graft clarity, and complications. The effect of age, socioeconomic status and sex on the distribution of these indications was studied. In all cases, interrupted suturing with 10/0 nylon was done. Routine follow-up schedule was every weekly for first month, biweekly for second month, monthly for 3 to 6 months, and every three months for one year. Patients compliant with this schedule were called “Regular Follow Ups.” Selective suture removal was started from third month onward, after assessing tightness of sutures on slit lamp examination, and calculating astigmatism by Retinoscopy.