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Stem cell-coated contact lens restores vision to the partially sighted
Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, have come up with a revolutionary treatment for corneal disease that involves growing stem cells from the patient on a contact lens. After ten days, the lens is then placed into the patient's eye and the stem cells move from the lens to the eye, healing the damaged cornea and restoring sight rapidly — a vast improvement from traditional transplant methods, where the donor organ can easily be rejected by the host body.
Dr Nick Di Girolamo, one of the men behind the breakthrough, claims that the method is simple and cheap. "Unlike other techniques, it requires no foreign human or animal products, only the patient's own serum, and is completely non-invasive. There's no suturing, there is no major operation. You don't need any fancy equipment."
Although the technique currently only treats corneal damage, the research team is hoping that it will be able to adapt the idea to treat retinal damage — and, perhaps later, on other organs such as skin, which behaves in a similar way to the cornea. The procedure is carried out using local anaesthetic and allows patients to return home within two hours.
Via Daily Mail
By Traveler at 12:28 PM ON 05/28/09
WOW!
By G-Man at 10:03 PM ON 06/04/09
Can you please tell me where to get this done in the States? I'm desperately trying to regain vision in my left eye and have had a total lens replacement but the cornea is bad.
By G-Man at 10:05 PM ON 06/04/09
Can you please tell me where to get this done in the States? I'm desperately trying to regain vision in my left eye and have had a total lens replacement but the cornea is bad.
By G-Man at 10:06 PM ON 06/04/09
Can you please tell me where to get this done in the States? I'm desperately trying to regain vision in my left eye and have had a total lens replacement but the cornea is bad.
By into health at 12:38 AM ON 06/07/09
To G-Man, please read information on my website
By into health at 12:42 AM ON 06/07/09
To G-Man again, website is: www.yoshiko.stemtechbiz.com
By jopower at 6:47 AM ON 06/07/09
A friend just forwarded this to me. As we all know of a few important people who really need vision repair, this video is worth watching. The vets wounded in war should especially get this message. I just hope we don't have to go to Australia to get it. Follow-up definitely worth pursuing and passing on.
http://gizmodo.com/5277456/stem-cell-contact-lenses-cure-blindness-in-less-than-a-month
Here's part of an article that names the involved people and institutions:
Stem cells used to restore sight for corneal disease sufferers
Leigh Dayton, Science writer | May 28, 2009
Article from:� The Australian
THREE Australians have had their sight restored thanks to their own stem cells and ordinary contact lenses.
Although the novel technique was used to reverse blinding corneal disease, it promises to be a quick, painless and cheap treatment for other visual disorders. It may even be useful for repairing damaged skin, the researchers reported today in the journal Transplantation.
The team leader, UNSW stem cell scientist Nick Di Girolamo said: We're quietly excited. We don't know yet if (the correction) will remain stable, but if it does it's a wonderful technique .
According to team member Stephanie Watson�- an opthalmic surgeon with Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital�- two of the three patients were legally blind in the treated eye; they can now read big letters on the eye chart. The third could read the top few rows of the chart but is now able to pass the vision test for a driving license.
By d-scammer at 6:57 AM ON 06/07/09
"Into Health" is selling a pill suppliment product, NOT stem cell therapy or repair services. His product may help but it isn't the proceedure described in this article. He should've stated that.
By Jess at 1:00 PM ON 06/08/09
The best thing about this is it was done through adult stem cells not embryonic. Scientists are smart :)
http://www.newsy.com/videos/new_hope_for_saving_eyesight
By Neci at 11:35 PM ON 06/16/09
Where is this procedure performed?
Anywhere in the US? Thank you!
By Anonymous at 1:29 PM ON 07/09/09
After a vitrectomy the sylacone that was holding my torn retina in place gushed threw my Irus because I triped my and my head/face jolted forward.and permantly blinded my left eye. would this procedure repair the Irus and regeneratand repair a damaged Retina? I have Lupus it is attaking my right eye as well. could this procedure repair the retina in it ?
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Anonymous:
After a vitrectomy the sylacone that was holding my torn retina in place gushed threw my Irus because I triped my...More »