Bengaluru, 2024: In its endeavor to create widespread awareness on the importance of eye donation fortnight and encourage greater number of pledges and actual eye donations, Sankara Eye Hospital, in association with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized sports event ‘Sankara Eye Olympics’ for around 100 visually challenged children between the age group of 12 to 18 at United Football Club, Halasuru. The highlight of the event was the participation of visually impaired in Relay, Cricket, Football and Kabbadi. Every year in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of eye donation, Eye Donation Fortnight is observed in the country from August 25, 2024 to September 08, 2024.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) for Bengaluru Shri. M N Anuchet – IPS and Mr. Anil Aldrin, Former Olympian and Indian Hockey Captain inaugurated the event with celebratory kick off. This initiative aims to educate society about eye donation and its life-changing impact while honoring the families of eye donors and the hospitals that support this noble cause.

At the Inaugural ceremony, Shri. M N Anuchet – IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said, “I am honored to be invited as the chief guest for this eye donation fortnight sports event. Eye donation is a noble act that can transform lives and bring light to those who are visually impaired. It is a gift of sight that can empower individuals to lead more independent lives. I urge everyone to consider donating their eyes to build a culture of self-lessness and giving.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anil Aldrin, Former Olympian and Indian Hockey Captain said, “As someone who has experienced the thrill of sports and the power of vision in achieving greatness, I am deeply honored to be part of this Eye Donation Fortnight. The courage and determination displayed by our visually impaired athletes today is inspirational. Their resilience reminds us all that true vision goes beyond sight—it’s about the strength of spirit, the will to overcome challenges, and the pursuit of excellence.”

The Eye Donation Fortnight by Sankara Eye Hospital featured a variety of activities, including skits, mimes, street plays and seminars designed to create awareness about eye donation. The Hospital has been organizing outreach programs and corporate programs and has been conducting Reels competitions and various other activities for broader reach. A felicitation program was organized to honor the families of eye donors and recognize the contributions of hospitals involved in the eye donation drive.

Mr. Mohammed Zahrin, CII Young Indians Bengaluru Chapter Chair who actively participated in the Eye donation activities said: “Young Indians is committed to raising awareness and encouraging individuals to donate their eyes. We can help restore sight to millions who are visually impaired. Our organization is actively participating in the eye donation fortnight by partnering with Sankara Eye Hospital to promote this noble cause. We urge everyone to join us in making a difference in the lives of others.”

Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Consultant, Cornea, Occular Surface, and Refractive Surgery, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru said, “Last year, the total amount of pledges we collected at our hospital was around 700. This year, we wish to increase this number by 10 to 15 %, reflecting our commitment to bridging the gap between the supply and demand for corneal transplants. We are receiving 160 to 180 eyes annually, highlighting the need for increased awareness and participation during this crucial fortnight. Around 100 individuals at our hospital alone remain on the waiting list due to a shortage of available corneas and this includes children as young as 6 years to elders around 80 years. The disparity between the need and availability is alarming which can be bridged only with wide-spread awareness on eye donation. The initiative begins with kith and kin which makes a huge difference. As of today, close to 5000 corneal transplants have been successfully performed at our hospital.”