Ayrshire Eye Foundation - 27/07/19

Speaker at Seagate’s recent meeting was Professor Sathish Srinivasan, Consultant Eye Surgeon ay Ayr Hospital. Sathish talked about the importance of corneal transplants in restoring sight and the consequent benefits to the patients, their families and the wider community when they can return to economic activity.

The Ayrshire Eye Foundation is a charity supporting corneal transplant awareness and the prevention of cornmeal blindness, which frequently occurs through untreated minor eye injuries becoming infected.  He volunteers several times a year to train surgeons in Africa, South East Asia and China.  

In Ayrshire, there are about 50 corneal transplants every year, each one restoring a person’s sight and independence, but shockingly in the past year, there were only two donations from this area.

In Canada, where he trained, organ donation is assumed unless someone deliberately opts out.  There were many questions and a vote of thanks was proposed by Hugh Hutchison.

Prior to the meeting, a donation of £300 was presented to Joyce Hodge from the Marymass Folk Festival to sponsor the Senior Citizen’s Folk Concert in the Volunteer Rooms on Friday 23rd August.