While cornea donors have increased  since the 1970s when corneas were imported from Sri Lanka, there is still a huge gap between demand and donations.
About 2000 people pledged their eyes at Narayana Netralaya during the fortnight. Chairman and Managing Director of the Hospital Dr K Bhujang Shetty said 1600 pledges of the 2000 pledges came from Youth Congress workers from Chikmagalur, who handed over the forms to the hospital.
Lions International Eye Bank who took up an extensive campaign by putting up banners, giving out pamphlets, programmes and advertisements received 1000 pledges during the fortnight along with a promise from the District Governor of Lions District  324D1, Ajanta Ranjaswamy that 5000 pledges will come from the members this year, said Managing Trustee of Lions Eye Hospital, BLS Murthy.
Shekhar Netralaya too, which held awareness camps got 500 people to pledge their eyes. Minto Eye Hospital  got a response from 200 people who were willing to pledge. In India, on an average 25,000 eyes are collected every year but the need is 10 times more.
At government hospitals like Minto Eye Hospital, at any given time there are 400 people on the waiting list, says assistant professor, Minto Ophthalmology Hospital, Bangalore Medical College, Dr Suresh Babu.