Fight for Sight raises awareness of eye donation and shortfall in corneas for transplant

Eye research charity Fight for Sight is raising awareness of the importance of eye donation and the current shortfall in corneas for transplant, after research found that eyes are the organ Brits would be the least likely to donate after their death, when asked to choose from a list.

In a YouGov poll, a staggering 44% of GB adults declared eyes as the body part they would least like to donate when selecting from a list of organs. Only 4% said the same for their heart and lungs and 2% for their kidney or liver. Furthermore, just 42% said they would consent to donate the eyes of a loved one after they died.

Reasons for reluctance to donate include the personal and squeamish factors associated with eye donation, with over half of those polled (52%) saying they wouldn’t donate their eyes because they feel too personal, and over a third (33%) of people saying the idea makes them feel too squeamish.

Encouragingly, after being informed of the significant shortfall of corneas available for transplant in the UK and the benefits of corneal donation in improving quality of life, over half (51%) of people who initially said they would be least likely to donate their eyes went on to say they would be likely to donate – showing that when presented with the facts, public attitude towards eye donation can change.

A new organ donation law (Max and Keira’s Law) was given Royal Assent on 15 March 2019 - meaning that from Spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group. Family members will also be able to continue to refuse consent on behalf of their loved ones after their death.

While the new law is good news for the overall organ donation pool, Fight for Sight is concerned that its research indicates people could restrict the donation of their eyes, either their own or on behalf of a loved one.

The charity is raising awareness of the life transforming effect of an eye donation, which can restore independence for thousands of people through a corneal transplant. The cornea is the transparent ‘window’ at the front of the eye and it can be damaged in a number of eye conditions, with a serious impact on sight.

Dr Neil Ebenezer, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Fight for Sight, said:

This research shows that people are less likely to donate their eyes than other organs, so we want to raise awareness of the precious gift that you can give by donating your eyes after you die.

A corneal transplant can transform someone’s life, improving their vision, and allowing them to retain their independence and ability to work, travel, and do all the other things that most of us take for granted. However, every year there aren’t enough corneas to meet the need for transplants.

Encouragingly, our research shows that when people are made aware of the current deficit and the life changing potential of an eye donation, over half of them change their minds and say they would consider donating their eyes after their death. This highlights the importance of sharing the message and raising awareness.”