A study on knowledge, awareness, and practices about eye donation in medical students

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess knowledge, awareness, and practices about eye donation in medical students of medical colleges. Setting: Tertiary Care Centre. Design: This study involves a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study at a tertiary care center in Western Vidarbha from August 2023 to October 2023, among medical students. Approval from the institutional ethical committee was taken. A total of 538 students participated in the study. After taking consent, data were collected in self-reported questionnaire consisting of questions about the knowledge and awareness of eye donation, the source of their information, willingness for donation, and respective reasons for willingness and nonwillingness. Data were analyzed. Results: Majority of students belonged to the age group between 21 and 30 years. Most were undergraduates, followed by interns and post-graduates. Five hundred and twenty-nine had heard about eye donation mainly through medical personnel. The majority of students believed that eye donation means giving sight to the blind. Most knew the nearest point of contact for eye donation. The answer given by most to the question “What is removed for transplantation?,” was cornea. The most common response to questions about a site for the removal of eyes was the hospital. The majority knew that no monetary benefits were given for donations. Those willing to pledge their eyes wanted to do so to help the blind, and those not willing said objection by family as the main reason among others. Conclusion: After the study, we concluded that awareness about eye donation was good in the students, while knowledge regarding eye donation varied among the students. Willingness to donate showed mixed responses.