Meeting the Need for Corneal Transplantation in Syria: Islamic Perspectives and Barriers to Building a Sustainable...

The aim of this study was to explore the religious, cultural, and systemic barriers to corneal donation and transplantation in Syria and to propose a context-specific framework for establishing a sustainable eye banking system.

We conducted a narrative review incorporating retrospective data from Syria's largest eye hospital and an analysis of Islamic legal opinions related to corneal donation. Key barriers to donation and access to corneal transplantation were identified through thematic synthesis of clinical and religious sources.

Between 1997 and 2025, over 74% of documented cases of corneal pathology requiring transplantation remained untreated because of limited infrastructure, severe shortages in donor tissue, and cultural beliefs. While public hesitancy is driven by concerns over bodily integrity and mistrust in the health system, Islamic jurisprudence overwhelmingly supports corneal donation as a permissible and charitable act.

Religious alignment and community education present major opportunities for expanding corneal donation in Syria. We propose a framework for sustainable eye banking rooted in operational feasibility, religious endorsement, and public trust.