In focus: Opticians ideally placed to spread donor message

According to data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), more than 3,500 people had their sight restored thanks to corneal transplants in the year to November 2018. The success rate for operations is very good – on average 72% after five years rising to up to 90% for conditions like keratoconus. The donors and recipients do not have to be a match for successful surgery, and one donor’s corneas can improve the sight of up to 10 people.

Despite the overall positive picture, there is a shortage of donors. NHSBT figures from April showed there were 279 corneas in the eye banks, but the target is always to have around 350. This represented a 21% shortfall. One hundred corneas are issued for transplant each week and NHSBT aims for 10 eye donors per day.