Donation and waiting list for corneal transplantation in the State of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This paper aims to describe the process of organ and tissue donation, tissue harvesting, queue and transplants as a health policy in Brazil and in the State of Rio de Janeiro, with emphasis on procedures for corneal transplantation. The low reporting of possible donors associated with a high rate of negative family in donation, associated with the insufficient number of corneas provided by Eye Banks are the main factors limiting the increase in the number of corneal transplants in Brazil. The creation of the Rio de Janeiro Eye Bank associated with policies that encourage increased reporting and collection of corneas aims to reduce the waiting list for corneal transplantation in Rio de Janeiro State.