As children, we all have played games of pretending we are blind; it is a harmless way to explore how we would feel if we were born without sight. Unlike children at play, persons with impaired vision are locked in the darkness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are more than 45 million blind people worldwide. Out of that number, more than a third of the world’s blind live in India.
Located in Sankara Nethralaya, the CU Shah Eye Bank reports that there are currently an estimated 15 million blind people in India. A many as 6.8 million of these persons suffer from corneal blindness. India government health officials predict the number of persons who have lost their vision due to corneal damage will increase to 10.6 million by the year 2020.
Corneal blindness, the result of disease or damage that affects the fragile transparency of the cornea is a horrible handicap. The cornea becomes cloudy and vision fades. Causes of corneal blindness include congenital eye disease, eye injuries, a deficiency of vitamin A or the residual effect of a viral, fungal or bacterial infection. Sadly, many cases of blindness could have been prevented with medical intervention.
When the cornea is too damaged to function, corneal transplant surgery offers hope, healing and the return of vision. Corneal transplant surgery, with a success exceeding 90 percent, is an extremely delicate operation to replace damaged opaque corneas with a healthy cornea obtained from a human donor.
Tej Kohli Foundation strives to bring light to the darkness. The Tej Kohli Foundation provides monthly grants to cover the cost of corneal transplants carried out by Niramaya, a Gurgaon based NGO. The foundation grants provide not only for Gurgaon; they provide funds for each additional city in India in which the blindness intervention program expands. Indian health experts anticipate that by the end of 2013 the generous humanitarian outreach will bring the healing and hope to tens of thousands of sightless persons.
In addition to helping offset the cost of corneal transplants, the Tej Kohli Foundation is dedicated to promoting eye awareness programs to help educate people about their eye, how to care for them, and why it is so important that they help others by donating corneas.
The Tej Kohli Foundation notes, “Kohli is an international businessman and philanthropist, with a diverse portfolio of commercial and charitable operations in the India, throughout the Americas, the Middle East and Europe. His many business interests range from e-commerce and IT, to real estate and reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. The programs of Kohli foundation are comprised of passionate people committed to addressing the critical needs of young people in India, Costa Rica and beyond. By inspiring communities, states and nations, by motivating individuals and institutions, by supporting local leaders with programs and facilities at community level, we will make a difference in the lives of millions of children.”