BENGALURU, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 — In a robust display of community mobilization and healthcare advocacy, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital teamed up with the Hillside Group of Institutions to host a high-energy walkathon on Kanakapura Road. The initiative marked the observance of National Eye Donation Fortnight, bringing together more than 150 college students, prominent medical professionals, and hospital staff dedicated to a shared humanitarian mission.
Equipped with creative placards and chanting encouraging slogans, the enthusiastic contingent marched through the campus corridors and surrounding areas. Their primary objective was clear: to spread widespread awareness about the critical importance of pledging eyes, dispel persistent societal myths, and directly address the severe shortage of corneal donors in the country.
The impactful event was officially flagged off by Shri Ramachandra S Choudhari, Inspector of Police at the Thalaghattapura Police Station, alongside Dr Sreepathi DK, Head of Clinical Services (General Ophthalmology, Paediatric, Squint, and Oculoplasty) at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital. Their joint presence highlighted the essential synergy between local law enforcement, academic institutions, and the medical sector in championing vital public health causes.
Addressing the gathered crowd, Dr Sreepathi DK emphasized the profound difference a single choice can make. “Eye donation has the power to restore sight and transform lives. One person’s decision to donate their eyes can bring the gift of vision to multiple individuals. Currently, there is a significant gap between the number of eyes required for corneal transplants and the number available. Awareness drives such as this walkathon, especially among the youth, play a vital role in bridging that gap and encouraging more people to come forward as donors.”
Medical statistics underscore the urgency of these grassroots efforts. Corneal blindness stands as the second leading cause of preventable blindness across India, currently impacting an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 million people, with millions more suffering from vision loss in one eye. While the annual national demand hovers around 200,000 corneal transplants, collections routinely fall short, recording only 50,000 to 55,000 donations each year. Locally in Bengaluru, thousands of patients remain on lengthy waiting lists, their hopes for restored sight stalled by lingering misinformation.
Shedding light on common misconceptions, Dr Sreepathi noted that eye donation remains one of the most selfless acts an individual can undertake, capable of restoring sight to two or even four people depending on the surgical technique utilized. He firmly dismissed myths claiming that older individuals are ineligible or that the donation process disfigures the body, reiterating that anyone—regardless of age or gender—can pledge their eyes.
Shri Ramachandra S Choudhari praised the proactive involvement of the student body, stating that initiatives like this foster a sense of civic responsibility, empowering young adults to carry vital health messages back to their families and neighborhoods.
To maximize the impact of every collected tissue, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital is actively incorporating advanced medical techniques such as Pre-Descemet’s Endothelial Keratoplasty (PDEK). This specialized procedure allows a single donor cornea to be split and utilized to restore vision in up to four separate patients.
Looking beyond the fortnight, the healthcare provider intends to widen its reach through school and college partnerships, NGO collaborations, and targeted digital platforms. Throughout the current campaign season, Dr Agarwals Group of Eye Hospitals has rolled out diverse engagement strategies across its various branches. These include human chains, interactive campus talks, creative student competitions, social media awareness drives, simplified QR code pledging systems, and the placement of trained grief counsellors in government medical facilities and mortuaries.
As National Eye Donation Fortnight continues, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital extends a sincere appeal to all citizens to step forward, pledge their eyes, and inspire those around them to do the same. By making this simple commitment, individuals can leave behind an enduring legacy and gift the priceless world of sight to those living in darkness.
