HYDERABAD, December 12, 2014 Stem cells in eye can restore vision, say scientists T. Lalith Singh print ยท T T inShare
In what promises to be an alternative to corneal transplantation in treating blindness caused from damage to cornea, scientists from city-based L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in collaboration with U.S. scientists claimed to have discovered potent stem cells in the eye that possess the ability to restore lost sight. The findings have been published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine on Thursday. Speaking to journalists, Sayan Basu, LVPEI consultant corneal surgeon and scientist, said he along with other scientists at the laboratory of Prof.James L.Funderburgh, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, tested stem cells obtained from human eyes on an experimental model of corneal scarring. "We found that when these stem cells were applied to damaged cornea they healed and became clear again within four weeks of treatment," Dr. Basu said. These stem cells also appeared to have induced healing beyond immediate vicinity and suggested they produce factors that promote regeneration and not just replacing the lost tissue, he said. Using stem cells could change the existing paradigm of treatment corneal blindness through transplantation, which not only needed sutures but also entailed a donor and the list of waiting recipients running long. Dr.Basu hopes the new finding would change this as the stem cells could easily be obtained from the patients with corneal scarring and then used therapeutically in the same person's eyes. This is achieved by simply layering the cells over the damaged areas with biological adhesive called fibrin glue, he explained. Claim that it can be an alternative to corneal transplantation Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/stem-cells-in-eye-can-restore-vision-say-scientists/article6684436.ece Comments to: web.thehi...@thehindu.co.in Copyright(c) 2014, The Hindu [X] Close [X] Close Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
