PM, wife pledge to donate eyes

New Delhi: Setting an example, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Singh on Thursday pledged to donate their eyes. They signed the pledge form on the occasion of National Eye Donation day.

There are over 4.5 million visually challenged persons in the country and doctors feel that at least three million can gain their sight through cornea transplant.

Eye donation can help restore vision among the corneally-blind.

There are more than 400 organisations registered with Eye Bank Association of India which are spreading awareness about eye donation and facilitating eye donation.

A non-metered service number 1919 has been provided by BSNL and MTNL all over the country to facilitate easy access to the nearest eye bank.