Challenges and Progress of Eye Banking in Bangladesh Mir Moshiur Rahman Adviser, Eye Bank, CEITC

Blindness Situation in Bangladesh Total Blindness : 7.5 millions Total Blindness : 7.5 millions Cataract: 74% Cataract: 74%Corneal: Corneal Blindness: 5,26,000 Corneal Blindness: 5,26,000 Both eye: 1,60,000 Both eye: 1,60,000 Single eye: 2,66,000 Single eye: 2,66,000

Background –Eye Bank Sandhani International Eye Bank Sandhani International Eye Bank Orth-Molher Eye Bank Orth-Molher Eye Bank ( Member of IFETB) ( Member of IFETB) Islamia Eye Bank ( yet to start operation) Islamia Eye Bank ( yet to start operation)

Sandhani International Eye Bank took a partnership project with ORBIS International Sandhani International Eye Bank took a partnership project with ORBIS International Progress

Staff Training Most of the eye bank staff have received training in their respective fields. Most of the eye bank staff have received training in their respective fields. (USA and India) (USA and India)

Sandhani International Eye Bank (SIEB) uses Medical Standards of Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) as reference document, along with SOPs of L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Eye Bank (LVPEI) Sandhani International Eye Bank (SIEB) uses Medical Standards of Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) as reference document, along with SOPs of L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Eye Bank (LVPEI) SIEB aligns staff training and operations so that daily operations reflect SOPs SIEB aligns staff training and operations so that daily operations reflect SOPs Standard Operating System (SOP)

Documentation Room Documentation Room Tissue preservation Room Tissue preservation Room Decontamination Lab Decontamination Lab Serology Lab Serology Lab Tissue Processing Lab Tissue Processing Lab Tissue Evaluation Lab Tissue Evaluation Lab Structured Developed

Whole globe enucleation Whole globe enucleation Corneo scleral rim excision Corneo scleral rim excision Lab corneal excision Lab corneal excision Cornea evaluation (Slit lamp, Specular) Cornea evaluation (Slit lamp, Specular) Serology test (HIV, HBsAg, VDRL) Serology test (HIV, HBsAg, VDRL) Waste disposal system Waste disposal system Preservation system- MK Medium Preservation system- MK Medium Proper cornea distribution Proper cornea distribution Procedure Developed

Corneal Doctors in Bangladesh > 20 corneal doctors > 20 corneal doctors Cornea fellowship program-15 months, LVPEI Cornea fellowship program-15 months, LVPEI All eye banks are attached with eye hospitals and have cornea clinic All eye banks are attached with eye hospitals and have cornea clinic

Cornea Collection and Graft % 83%

Decreasing cornea collection rate Decreasing cornea collection rate Religious Barrier Religious Barrier Ignorance- Govt. Donor, Hospital authority Ignorance- Govt. Donor, Hospital authority Not enough knowledge about eye donation Not enough knowledge about eye donation Not adequate public awareness program on eye donation Not adequate public awareness program on eye donation Skilled and stable Manpower Skilled and stable ManpowerChallenges

Recommendations Support from Govt. and donor agency can help to face our eye banking challenges Involve the Imams & other religious leaders in the motivational campaigns Attract & keep motivated, talented, innovative & energetic people to the eye bank as staff members with good compensation package along with good career & job security plan