Yao Xiaoming has been working in clinical ophthalmology for 36 years, but his most important responsibility takes place outside of the operation room. He is adamant about encouraging more people to become cornea donors.

Yao  has played an important role in pushing forward the Regulation of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Human Organ Donation and Transplant, the first of its kind in China. He also holds a record of doing 88 ophthalmic operations in one day. Thousands of patients have been able to see the world again thanks to his corneal transplant operations.

Next to cataracts, corneal diseases are the second most common group of diseases that cause blindness. Corneal transplants can help about 70 percent of patients recover their eyesight. In China, however, due to the lack of corneal donors, the treatments can get  delayed, leaving them blind.

Ever since Yao began his career, he has been in charge of promoting cornea donation.

“We were called ‘donation persuaders.' No one understood our work. The potential donors would ask you to leave immediately,” Yao noted. But he has never given up on a chance to promote donations. He carries a plastic card in his wallet, which reads: "If an accident happens, please donate my corneas." He also encourages his family members to carry a card with the same message.

The first case of corneal donation in Shenzhen took place in 1999. The patient's name was Xiang Chunmei, and Yao was in charge of her operation. “I still remember every detail of the operation. It was very emotional,” he said. “During the operation, I told Xiang that ‘I completed your wishes and your kindness will be cherished.'” Then the city planted a “tree of brightness” for her and the future donors. The ashes of the donors were buried under the tree for commemoration. 

After Xiang's operation, more people became willing to donate their corneas. On June 30, 2002, Shenzhen established the first Eye Bank in China. Yao acted as the executive chairman of the bank and was in charge of managing the corneas donated from home and abroad. In 2015, Yao's mother passed away. Again, Yao was in charge of the operation and transplanted his mother's cornea to eight patients with corneal diseases.

Yao also travels to other parts of the country to help the patients there, treating complicated diseases and promoting corneal donation. Facing patients with financial difficulties, he used his sources to help them raise funds for their treatment.

“Personally, I believe that people can't determine how long they'll live, but can define how they live life,” Yao said.

Directors: Lei Rong, Li Wei

Editors: Zhang Yan, Liang Si

Filmed by: Zhang Wenjun

Designer: Yu Peng, Yin Yating, Li Wenyi

Article Written by: Zhu Siqi

Copy editors: Henry Weimin Zheng, Nadim Diab, Josh McNally

Producer: Wen Yaru

Chief Editor: Chen Ran

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei