Ever thought something usually discarded after birth could give someone the gift of sight? At a government hospital in Indore, that’s exactly what’s happening. Doctors there are turning what most hospitals treat as medical waste into a breakthrough healing solution for severe eye injuries. And the star of this story? The placenta.
Yes, we’re talking about placentas.
That same organ, usually discarded after every childbirth, is now helping restore eyesight at Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital. And it’s working better than anyone expected.
How exactly is Placenta helping restore eyesight?
Let’s break it down: when a baby is born, the placenta which nourished and protected the baby for nine months is usually discarded. But inside it is something called the amniotic membrane a super-thin layer that’s naturally anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, and packed with healing properties.
Doctors at MY Hospital remove this layer, clean and sterilize it, then store it in eye banks.
Now imagine someone comes in with a serious eye injury a chemical burn or acid attack that’s damaged the cornea (the clear front part of the eye). The doctor places this thin membrane over the injured surface. Like a protective shield, it:
Reduces pain and inflammation
Promotes natural tissue regeneration
Prevents infection and scarring
Acts like a healing bandage but for your eye
Over the next few days, the membrane dissolves naturally while the eye starts to repair itself underneath.
No stitches. No foreign materials. Just nature helping nature.
Real people, Real results
Dr. Walia, who heads the eye department at MY Hospital, says they perform 5–6 of these surgeries every month. And the results? Nothing short of life-changing.
There’s the factory worker who suffered a chemical burn. A woman who survived an acid attack. Children born with congenital eye problems. People who thought they’d never see their loved ones again.
Most patients start noticing improvements in two weeks. Some regain full vision. Others recover enough to become independent again.
And here’s a stat that stays with you: one placenta can help 100 different patients. One birth, a hundred second chances.
What About Cost?
You might be thinking, “This must be expensive.” But here’s the shocker.
At private hospitals, similar eye treatments cost upwards of ₹70,000. At MY Hospital? If you have Ayushman Bharat, it’s completely free. And if you don’t? It costs just ₹250.
₹250 vs. ₹70,000.
That’s not just affordable. That’s revolutionary.
Why aren’t more people getting it?
Here’s the sad part: 9 out of 10 people who could benefit from this surgery never get it.
Why?
They don’t know it exists.
They assume it’s too costly.
They delay treatment, thinking it’s “just a small eye issue.”
And the truth is: timing matters. Doctors say if you come in right after the injury, they can usually help. Wait too long, and even this miracle membrane might not be enough.
Why this story matters
Working in healthcare, I’ve seen how hard it is for people to afford treatment. Every pharmacist knows the struggle their customers face.
This isn’t just a win for eye care. It’s a wake-up call.
We don’t always need expensive machines to make a difference. Sometimes, we just need better use of what we already have.
What we can learn
This story teaches us three big things:
Innovation isn’t always high-tech: These doctors saw healing where others saw waste.
Government hospitals can do world-class work: With the right people, even limited resources go far.
Awareness changes everything: The biggest barrier to recovery isn’t money — it’s not knowing help exists.
One placenta. A hundred second chances to see the world. That’s not just science that’s what real human care looks like.
At MY Hospital, a government setup with limited resources, doctors are turning medical waste into miracles. They aren’t waiting for billion-dollar machines they’re using what’s available, and saving sight with it.
This isn't just about a new medical procedure. It’s about hope that’s affordable. About access that actually reaches the people who need it most.
