Karachi: A ray of light has returned to the lives of two blind individuals after successful corneal transplant surgeries were performed at two different hospitals using corneas donated by the late veteran journalist Zubaida Mustafa.Zubaida Mustafa had pledged in 1975 to donate her corneas after death. A lifelong advocate for corneal donations and the fight against blindness, her commitment became a reality after her recent passing. In fulfillment of her wish, both her corneas were retrieved and successfully transplanted into two blind persons, one at Pakistan Eye Bank Society (PEBS) Hospital and the other at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT).At PEBS Hospital, Dr. Faisal Murtaza performed the transplant on Mr. Mohammad Sadiq, a school teacher who had lost his vision and lived in darkness for years. Dr. Faisal confirmed the success of the procedure and gave the heartening news that Mr. Sadiq would soon be able to see again.Simultaneously, the second cornea was transplanted at SIUT, also resulting in a successful surgery for another visually impaired individual, restoring their hope for a new beginning.Qazi Sajid Ali, President of Pakistan Eye Bank Society, remarked:”Posthumous corneal donation is a profound act of humanitarian service. It gives blind individuals the gift of sight, allowing them to see their loved ones and live normal lives. Since 1968, PEBS has been committed to eliminating blindness through local corneal donations. Zubaida Mustafa’s act of kindness will serve as a powerful inspiration to promote post-death cornea donations and dispel misconceptions surrounding them.”
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