Kerala's corneal transplant push hampered by shortage of donor tissue

Ophthalmologists in Kerala have flagged a growing mismatch between the state's expanding corneal transplant infrastructure and its capacity to source donor tissue, warning that the gap could stall progress in reducing preventable blindness.

While Kerala has been investing in transplantation facilities across public health institutions, eye specialists point to a pressing need to develop and strengthen Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programmes (HCRP) in both public and private sector facilities. These programmes are critical to identifying potential donors and retrieving tissue in a timely manner.

The shortage of young donor corneas—tissue with superior optical properties essential for successful transplants—has emerged as a particular constraint. Medical experts note that without robust procurement systems in place, the state risks being unable to fully utilize its newly expanded surgical capacity.

Ophthalmic professionals are advocating for a coordinated, two-pronged approach that combines increased donor recruitment drives with systematic tissue retrieval protocols across healthcare networks. Such measures, they argue, are essential to translate Kerala's investments in transplant technology into tangible improvements in patient outcomes and reduced corneal blindness rates.