DW BUREAU / SHIMLA In Himachal Pradesh, one dead donor can now give sight to four corneal blind persons instead of two. The Eye Bank at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here is all set to start the split cornea transplantation by using the most advanced technique. This was disclosed by Dr Ram Lal Sharma, Professor and Head, Ophthalmology Department and Nodal Officer of first Eye Bank of the state, who was an expert speaker in the webinar on 'Right to Donate Eyes' organized by Umang Foundation. The Foundation is headed by Professor Ajai Srivastava, an expert member of HP State Advisory Board on Disability. He said equipment worth nearly Rs 40 lakh is being procured for the purpose. It was the 19th weekly webinar of the Foundation on human rights to mark Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Interestingly, four visually impaired girl PhD scholars conducted the webinar. Dr Ram Lal Sharma said the new advanced technique would make optimum use of cornea and help to eradicate corneal blindness. "There are around 3000-4000 corneal blind persons who could benefit in a short span of time with this technique," he said. He said in the past 10 years, as many as 276 blind persons have been given sight in Himachal Pradesh through transplant of cornea at IGMC, while 180 are in the waiting list and 1163 persons have filled up pledge forms to donate eyes after death. (editor@dailyworld.in)