Tech | October 12, 2009 | 12 comments

Stem-Cell-Coated Contact Lenses Are Curing the Blind

source: http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-06/curing-blindness-contact-lenses

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JamesAJanisse
"Researchers in Australia have come up with an outwardly simple but incredibly ingenious way of curing blindness caused by corneal damage: Take everyday contact lenses, already used by millions (including me), and infuse them with a patient's own stem cells. After wearing them for about 2 weeks, test subjects reported a seemingly miraculous restoration of sight. Is it that easy?

Most of the patients had only lost vision in one eye, so stem cells were harvested from their good eye and then plated onto contact lenses. After letting the stem cells repair damaged tissues, 2 of the 3 patients went from legally blind to being able to read some of an eye chart. The third patient actually regained enough sight to pass a driving exam. Researchers are still monitoring the stability of the treatment, but the results seem promising, if not mind blowing.

So far they’ve only targeted corneal damage, which is estimated to be the cause of sight loss in about 1.5 million people every year. The simplicity and relatively low cost of the procedure could make it available in more impoverished areas. Even a congenital defect in both eyes, aniridia, was cured using stem cells taken from a different part of the eye. Once the process is perfected and tested extensively, researchers think in the future they can use it to cure blindness that afflicts other parts of the eye. "

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Yet another amazing advancement in the field of science. I love seeing things like this as they're developed. The article says that it's a pretty simple procedure, so how long do you think until it gains widespread prominence?
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12 comments // Stem-Cell-Coated Contact Lenses Are Curing the Blind

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