Eye Donation Rally in Vizag Highlights Power to Restore Vision

One person’s eye donation can give sight to two others, said Dr. V. Meenakshi, Superintendent of the Regional Eye Hospital. She launched an awareness rally in the city on Sunday to mark the 40th National Eye Donation Fortnight, which runs from August 25 to September 8.

The rally was held by the District Blindness Prevention Organization and Mohshin Eye Bank. It started at the RK Beach Kalimata Temple and ended at YMCA. Dr. Meenakshi, who also manages the district blindness prevention unit, said many people in India suffer from poor eyesight and need support. She said eye donation can change lives.

Doctors Jyotirmayi, Tarakeswara Rao of Gayatri Medical College, and Dharmaraju of NRI Hospital also spoke at the event. They explained that eyes can be donated within six to eight hours after death. They urged people to come forward and said awareness events would be held throughout the fortnight.

During the rally, volunteers gave out pamphlets and spoke to visitors at RK Beach about the need for eye donation.

Nearly 700 people joined the event. They included staff of the Regional Eye Hospital, students from nursing and medical colleges, and members of LV Prasad Eye Hospital and Mohshin Eye Bank. Doctors and staff from Shankar Foundation Hospital, GIMSR Medical College, NRI Hospital, and Visakhapatnam Eye Hospital also took part.