Stem Cell Contact Lenses Cure Blindness in Less Than a Month

saathi · Jun 5th, 2009, 04:05 am

Quote:

Here's something that people with poor or no vision will be excited about: three patients had their sight restored in less than a month by contact lenses cultured with stem cells.

All three patients were blind in one eye. The researchers extracted stem cells from their working eyes, cultured them in contact lenses for 10 days, and gave them to the patients. Within 10 to 14 days of use, the stem cells began recolonizing and repairing the cornea.

Of the three patients, two were legally blind but can now read the big letters on an eye chart, while the third, who could previously read the top few rows of the chart, is now able to pass the vision test for a driver's license. The research team isn't getting over excited, still remaining unsure as to whether the correction will remain stable, but the fact that the three test patients have been enjoying restored sight for the last 18 months is definitely encouraging. The simplicity and low cost of the technique also means that it could be carried out in poorer countries.

This is incredible and potentially game changing. It's stuff like this that makes you realize that we live in the future, and it's awesome.

http://gizmodo.com/5277456/stem-cell...s-than-a-month

the article has a youtube video .

they tested it on three patients and all three got their eyesight back . looks like that it is going to pass through more tests before it is made public . and they are talking about replacing dead skin cells in the future .

Blonde Baji · Jun 5th, 2009, 04:10 am

that's awesome !!!

Amabel · Jun 5th, 2009, 11:22 pm

Cool

It is still a debate in US. Conservatives are not willing to accept it.

saathi · Jun 6th, 2009, 10:38 pm

hi . what is the cost of having your blindness cured by stem cells or having your blindness cured by taking a few cells from your working eye ? even if it passes , people won ' t be able to afford it .

Amabel · Jun 7th, 2009, 02:31 am

^ eventually the cost will come down - just like any other medication or invention. Imagine their R&D costs. they've to atleast reach the break-even point.