BANCO DE OLHOS

Abstract

A corneal transplantation is well within the scope of a proficient ophthalmologist. In fact often beneficial operations have had to be omitted, not because of lack of competence, but because there was no source of corneas available. However, nowadays in Brazil this problem is being tackled with favourable results. There are no less than 5 eye banks. In Sao Paulo over one hundred such operations are done per year. But this is small-scale in comparison with New York where 2,400 eyes of donors are used annually. Extrapolating these data for Sao Paulo, about 600 transplants can be done there; about 300 in Belo Horizonte; and about 60 in Goiania (within the author's practice area). The advantages of an eye bank are described in this article as a factor uniting all classes, promoting scientific technique by methodology and systematisation. A short account is given of the costs of setting up and maintaining an eye bank.