Authors (including presenting author) :
LUK CK(1)(2), FUNG CP(1)(2), SHAM CY(1)(2), CHAN ML(1)(2), WONG SM(1)(2), Wong SM(1)(2), CHOW WS(1)(2)
Affiliation :
(1)Hospital Authority Eye Bank,(2)Hong Kong Eye Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Eye Donation
Introduction :
Eye donation is crucial to meet Hong Kong’s rising demand for corneal transplants, however consent remains low due to cultural beliefs and limited awareness.
Objectives :
We compared the data of solicited cases (no prior donor wish) and voluntary cases to understand how wishes become actual donations and to guide strategies to boost donation.
Methodology :
A retrospective review of approached cases of the Hospital Authority Eye Bank from 2022 to 2024 was conducted. The voluntary cases were classified as documented (Centralized Organ Donation Registry (CODR)/donor card/written wish), verbal expression while living, or family‑initiated donation. We summarized yearly counts and proportions, and examined the refusal reasons of the family.
Result & Outcome :
The consent rate for voluntary cases and solicited cases were 96.7% and 34.2% respectively. Of 118 consented voluntary cases, 61.9% had documented wishes, 25.4% expressed wish of donation verbally, and 12.7% were family‑initiated donation. 4 cases with CODR ultimately declined donation, due to family could not reach consensus (2), desire to keep body integrity (1), and family upset/mistrust (1).
Voluntary donations have a much higher success rate. However, promoting CODR enrollment alone is insufficient to ensure actual eye donation. Additional efforts include fostering open family discussions, providing culturally sensitive education, and building trust within communities are essential, to bridge the gap between expressed wishes and successful eye donations.
