Bhubaneswar, Odisha, February 9, 2026: Drushti Daan Eye Bank (DDEB) at the LVPEI Mithu Tulsi Chanrai (MTC) campus in Bhubaneswar has collected 20,000 corneas, unlocking hope and endless possibilities for thousands of patients in need of a corneal transplant. This is a transformative milestone for eye banking in eastern India.
The honorable governor Shri Kambhampati Hari Babu was the chief guest at the celebration. All the partners of DDEB who helped achieve this milestone were felicitated at the event.
From humble beginnings in 2003 with just 30 corneas harvested in the first five years, it is now among the top five eye banks in India. The corneas collected support with optical, therapeutic, and tectonic transplants nationwide, including lamellar keratoplasties.
A hub-and-spoke model links the Drushti Daan Eye Bank (DDEB) at LVPEI Bhubaneswar (the central hub) with ten Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program (HCRP) centers at the District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs). This model helps with the collection and distribution of corneas, bringing eye banking services to rural and semi-urban populations.
The central hub is equipped with specular microscopes and pre-cutting machines for preparing lamellar corneal tissue. It medically evaluates, quality tests and grades all corneas collected for transplants and research as the case maybe. Since 2016, the DDEB has been preparing pre-cut corneal tissues for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgeries.
The Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program (HCRP) drives over 85% of donations. The DDEB-LVPEI team has till date published 18+ peer-reviewed papers on eye banking, donor profiles, preservation techniques, and safety.
The honorable governor of Odisha, Shri Kambhampati Hari Babu congratulating the team on the occasion, said, 'The 20,000 corneas collected embody the resilience and compassion of the Odiya people who have turned grief into light and vision for countless people. It should inspire all of us to pledge our eyes and build a sighted future for the many who are corneal blind. I congratulate all those who played a part in this achievement.'
Dr Sujata Das, Medical Director of Drushti Daan Eye Bank speaking on the occasion, said: 'This milestone is a celebration of two decades of quiet dedication and resolve of the team and the community’s compassion.'
Dr Umesh Chandra, Campus Head – Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, speaking on the occasion, said: 'Reaching the 20,000 corneas milestone reflects the unwavering commitment of our hub-and-spoke teams’ and donor families. LVPEI's integrated model has made high-quality eye banking accessible across Odisha, unlocking hope and endless possibilities for many.'
Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman- LVPEI praising the team on the occasion, said: 'This 20k corneas collected milestone exemplifies LVPEI's mission to eliminate preventable blindness through community partnerships. We're proud of our entire team in this hub-and-spoke model, who have worked tirelessly to make this a possibility.'
About LVPEI: Established in 1987, with the vision, ‘to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,’ the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health facility, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness.
In pursuance of this vision, LVPEI clinician scientists work at the cutting edge of eye research. Through its five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ and cross-subsidy models, LVPEI provides more than 50% of its services entirely at no cost to the patient, irrespective of the complexity of care needed. LVPEI is among the world’s top eye researchers with over 5,000 published scientific papers in prominent international journals.
For further information, please visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org.
Contact: Aneetha Kanukolanu, Associate Director- Network Communications
Phone: +91 40 6810 2272
Email: aneetha.kanukolanu@lvpei.org
Website: www.lvpei.org