An animal study in the journal Nature Biotechnology showed the part of the eye which actually detects light can be repaired using stem cells. The team at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College
London say human trials are now, for the first time, a realistic
prospect. Experts described it as a "significant breakthrough" and "huge leap" forward. Photoreceptors are the cells in the retina which react to
light and convert it into an electrical signal which can be sent to the
brain. However, these cells can die off in some causes of blindness such as Stargardt's disease and age-related macular degeneration. There are already trials in people to use stem cells to
replace the "support" cells in the eye which keep the photoreceptors
alive.
More on this story here.
3 comments:
Very encouraging. Moorfields is one of the leading eye hospitals, follow this with interest
Paul B
Recommended read
Jeff
This is very encouraging indeed as age-related macular degeneration does effect a lot of people. Val.
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