First corneal transplant was performed in Department of Ophthalmology, DRPGMC Tanda on a patient, Bihnu, a 65 years old woman from a remote area of Tissa of Chamba district yesterday. 

Principal DRPGM College Tanda Dr. Ramesh Bharti today told UNI that a patient had perforated corneal ulcer and needed an urgent therapeutic graft. He said that the surgical team comprised of Dr. Rajeev Tuli. Dr. RK Sharma and Dr. Gaurav Sharma who performed the successful surgery. He said that this facility of corneal transplantation is not available in any other institution in this region. He said that there was an urgent need for eye donation and a need to dispel myths and misconceptions regarding eye donation.

 The relatives of the deceased, who had pledged to donate their eyes after their death, have a moral duty to fulfill the desire of the deceased relative and call the eye bank at the earliest. Dr. Bharti said that they may come forward to donate the eyes of their nearest one even if the person had not pledged during life. This noble gesture can give the gift of sight to two cornea blind individuals, Principal added .The eyes can be removed for corneal transplantation only within 4 - 6 hours after the death ,therefore the eye bank needs to be informed at the earliest