Even if the person has not filled any Pledge card or Donor card during his lifetime, his/her next of kin can donate the eyes of the deceased without any legal hassle. The role of the next of kin and family physician (of voluntary Eye donor) is also of utmost importance. They may act according to the word of the deceased. The guidelines for them are as under:

1. In case of demise of the donor, please inform immediately, to the nearest Eye Bank. The eyes could be collected by any nearest eye bank irrespective to the place where registration has been done.
2. The information should be conveyed to the Eye Bank as early as possible preferably within 2-3 hours of the death of the donor.
3. Please give full co-operation to the personnel who come to remove the eyes.
4. The Eye Bank Technician will take necessary steps to avoid any disfigurement of the body while the removal of the eyes.

The care of donor's eyes is very necessary to keep them viable for transplantation.

1. Eyelids should be closed immediately after death & place wet cotton/ cloth with ice cubes over the closed eyelids. It will keep the eyes moist
2. Switch off the fan (keep A/C ON). Raise the Donor‘s head with a couple of pillows.
3. Get the death certificate ready quickly by a family physician by the time Eye Bank team arrives.

Eye bank team will take consent of the next of kin before starting the procedure. The entire procedure takes about half an hour. Whole eye balls / corneas are retrieved and replaced with artificial eye caps, which retain the shape of the eyes. As well, a small amount of blood sample is taken for testing. Once the procedure is over, there are usually no obvious signs that the donation took place.
Once the eyes are at the eye bank, they are evaluated. If the eyes cannot be used for transplantation, they can be used for research & training.
The Donor’s blood is screened for HIV 1 & 2, Hepatitis B & C, and Syphilis. The blood tests must be negative in order for the corneas to be used for transplants.