World Eye Donation Day
World Eye Donation Day is observed every year on 10 June — to raise awareness about the importance of eye donation and pledging one's eyes (cornea) for donation after death. Exactly how and when this day was established is not clearly documented, so this page focuses on the importance of eye donation and how this day differs from related observances. This year (2026), 10 June falls on a Wednesday; it is not a public holiday.
This year's dates (2026)
Eye donation is one way to restore sight to people with corneal blindness. It is widely reported that eyes from a single donor can restore sight to two people, and that the process of removing the eyes after death is completed in roughly 20 minutes.
World Eye Donation Day vs. National Eye Donation Fortnight vs. World Sight Day
Three related eye/vision observances are easy to mix up — each has a different origin:
- World Eye Donation Day — 10 June: widely observed in India, focused on the eye-donation pledge — but its establishment history is unclear (see below).
- National Eye Donation Fortnight — 25 August to 8 September: a well-documented Indian government programme run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) since 1985, observed every year through AIIMS's national eye bank with participation from the union health minister — the strongest, most authoritative anchor for eye-donation awareness.
- World Sight Day — the second Thursday of October: a well-documented global day established by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), focused on blindness prevention and eye care; it does not specifically focus on eye donation.
Of these three, the National Eye Donation Fortnight is the one with the strongest, most clearly documented detail — worth keeping in mind if you want to learn more about eye donation specifically.
History & origin
No official international document has been found identifying which body established 10 June as "World Eye Donation Day," or in which year.
Some sources say this day is linked to the memory of ophthalmologist Dr. R. A. Bhalchandra — accounts state that both his birth and death fell on 10 June, and that as a government eye surgeon he performed a large number of eye surgeries. This account is presented here as a popular belief; no independent, high-quality corroborating source was found for it, and available mentions even differ on his birth year.
Is it a public holiday?
World Eye Donation Day is not a nationwide government holiday. Hospitals, eye banks, and health organisations may hold awareness camps and pledge drives on this day.
Good to know
- This day's establishment history is not clearly documented — avoid firm claims and keep any mention general.
- Don't confuse this day with World Sight Day (October) or the National Eye Donation Fortnight (25 August–8 September) — three different observances, three different origins.
- You can register to pledge your eyes by contacting your nearest eye bank.
- This is a fixed Gregorian date — it falls on 10 June every year; the panchang tithi is not relevant to it. (In 2026, June falls in an intercalary lunar month, which is why the tithi name looks unusual, but that does not affect the Gregorian date.)
FAQ
- Why is World Eye Donation Day celebrated on 10 June?
- In India, this day is said to be linked to the memory of ophthalmologist Dr. R. A. Bhalchandra, but no official, independently verified corroboration has been found for that — the exact reason is unclear.
- What is the difference between World Eye Donation Day and the National Eye Donation Fortnight?
- World Eye Donation Day (10 June) has an unclear establishment history, while the National Eye Donation Fortnight (25 August–8 September) is a well-documented official programme started by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1985.
- How many people can regain sight from one person's eye donation?
- It is widely reported that eyes from a single donor can restore sight to two people with corneal blindness.
- How do you register for eye donation in India?
- You can contact your nearest eye bank to fill out a pledge form — organisations such as the Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) provide guidance on the process.