AIIMS Launches Trial to Repurpose Discarded Donor Corneas and Reduce Shortage

AIIMS is conducting a clinical trial that uses corneas discarded after eye‑bank screening, aiming to process them for transplantation and expand the donor pool. The trial follows national guidelines and involves ophthalmology specialists from Delhi and regional centers.

Discarded Corneas previously deemed unsuitable are being re‑evaluated with advanced preservation techniques, allowing up to 48‑hour viability for surgical use. Early data suggest a potential increase of 20 percent in usable grafts, which could shorten waiting times for patients with corneal blindness.

Patients awaiting corneal transplants could benefit as the trial targets the estimated shortage of 30,000 corneas annually in India. Officials say successful scaling may integrate the protocol into eye‑bank networks nationwide, improving access to sight‑restoring surgery.

Government health authorities have pledged logistical support, providing additional storage facilities and training for eye‑bank personnel to adopt the new protocol. The initiative aligns with the national goal of reducing preventable blindness and may serve as a model for other organ‑tissue shortages.