Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Hillside Institutions Join Hands to Promote Eye Donation
Over 150 students participate in awareness walkathon during National Eye Donation Fortnight
Bengaluru, September 8, 2026: In an effort to encourage eye donation and dispel long-standing myths surrounding the practice, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, in association with Hillside Group of Institutions, organised an awareness walkathon in Bengaluru as part of the National Eye Donation Fortnight 2026.
More than 150 students participated in the initiative, joining doctors and staff members from Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Kanakapura Road. Carrying awareness placards and raising slogans, participants walked across the campus, urging people to pledge their eyes and highlighting the life-changing impact of corneal donation.
The initiative also drew attention to the growing need for corneal transplants in India, where thousands of people continue to wait for a suitable donor because of inadequate awareness and misconceptions about eye donation.
The walkathon was flagged off by Shri Ramachandra S. Choudhari, Police Inspector, Thalaghattapura Police Station, along with Dr Sreepathi DK, Head – Clinical Services (General Ophthalmology, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Squint and Oculoplasty), Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital.
The participation of the police, educational institution and healthcare professionals reflected the importance of a collective community effort in encouraging citizens, particularly young people, to support the cause of eye donation.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sreepathi DK said, that eye donation has the potential to transform lives by restoring vision to people suffering from corneal blindness.
“Eye donation is a powerful gift that can help restore sight and bring about a meaningful change in the lives of those waiting for a corneal transplant. There continues to be a significant gap between the number of corneas required and the number of donations available. Awareness programmes, particularly those involving young people, can play an important role in encouraging more individuals and families to come forward,” he said.
Corneal blindness remains one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in India. An estimated 1.2 to 1.3 million people are affected by corneal blindness, while several million others suffer from vision impairment in one eye.
India requires around 200,000 corneal transplants annually. However, only about 50,000 to 55,000 eye donations are recorded every year, leaving a significant number of patients waiting for the opportunity to regain their vision. Bengaluru too has thousands of patients awaiting corneal transplantation.
Dr Sreepathi DK said, myths and misinformation continue to discourage many families from considering eye donation.
“Eye donation is among the most selfless contributions an individual can make. A single donor can potentially help restore sight to two to four people. However, several misconceptions still persist, including the belief that only young people can donate their eyes or that the body is disfigured after eye donation. These beliefs are incorrect. People of different ages and genders can pledge their eyes,” he added.
Shri Ramachandra S. Choudhari appreciated the participation of the students and stressed the role of young people in spreading awareness within society.
“We are happy to see such enthusiastic participation from students for this noble cause. Awareness initiatives like these encourage young people to become responsible citizens and help them carry the message of eye donation to their families, friends and communities,” he said.
Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital is also adopting advanced corneal transplantation procedures, including Pre-Descemet’s Endothelial Keratoplasty (PDEK). The procedure has the potential to maximise the use of donor tissue, with a single cornea being utilised to help restore vision in multiple patients.
The hospital said it plans to continue its awareness efforts beyond the National Eye Donation Fortnight by collaborating with educational institutions, NGOs and community organisations. Digital outreach initiatives will also be expanded to encourage more young people to pledge their eyes.
Across its centres, Dr Agarwals Group of Eye Hospitals has undertaken several initiatives during the awareness fortnight, including walkathons, human chains, college awareness sessions, student competitions and social media campaigns. The group has also introduced QR code-based pledging initiatives and deployed trained grief counsellors in government hospitals and mortuaries to support families and provide information about eye donation.
The initiatives are aimed at addressing the shortage of donor corneas and encouraging individuals and families to make informed decisions about eye donation.
As part of the National Eye Donation Fortnight, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has appealed to citizens to pledge their eyes and encourage others to do the same, emphasising that the decision to donate can leave behind a lasting legacy by giving someone the priceless gift of sight.
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