Stem Cell Contact Lenses Cure Blindness in Less Than a month

[kelvin070]

Source: Gizmodo.com
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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYDSPFuWFDM
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[kelvin070]

Will this reopen the stem cell research controversy?

 

[MoonOwl]

Too freaking awesome. Stem cells are cool. I keep hoping we'll become the leader in this field. But until then I'm glad others arent shying away from them.

The possibilities are endless....

 

[wsmierzynski]

Don't you find some of the scenes from the video utterly disturbing?

 

[kelvin070]

Don't you find some of the scenes from the video utterly disturbing?

Not so compared to the ones I seen - Islamic radicals in afghanistan cutting of complete heads.

 

[Thornless]

Forget that laser surgery I want this!!

 

[wsmierzynski]

Not so compared to the ones I seen - Islamic radicals in afghanistan cutting of complete heads.

Or "Two girls one cup." That wasn't my point. This was ment to be seen by the wider audience so why do they put these eye scenes it. Disgusting.

Forget that laser surgery I want this!!

I don't think it works like that. Laser surgery sucks anyway. I've read somewhere that only around 10 percent of cases are completely successful. The rest still should wear glasses or contacts.

 

[Thornless]

I don't think it works like that. Laser surgery sucks anyway. I've read somewhere that only around 10 percent of cases are completely successful. The rest still should wear glasses or contacts.

Hmm, well I've talked to two who have had it done... one of which was legally blind in one eye. Worked great for them.

 

[wsmierzynski]

If your blind it works then.

I can see you wear glasses and because of that I gave those approximate statistics for the patients who weren't entirely blind. I have -4.5D and -4.25D and my eyedoctor told me I would still have around -0.5D in both eyes. What's the point in having a surgery if you still need to wear glasses?

 

[Thornless]

If your blind it works then.

I can see you wear glasses and because of that I gave those approximate statistics for the patients who weren't entirely blind. I have -4.5D and -4.25D and my eyedoctor told me I would still have around -0.5D in both eyes. What's the point in having a surgery if you still need to wear glasses?

Hmm... then I just need new eyes then. Brown would be nice.

 

[wsmierzynski]

Have you ever considered contact lenses? They work for me.

 

[Thornless]

Yea, was thinking about getting them this year... my current glasses seem to need an upgrade. My astigmatisms blow.

 

[wsmierzynski]

You should definitely give them a go. They are much more comfortable. I use PureVison lenses. You can wear them constantly for up to 30 days without taking them out and you don't need those expensive thoric ones if your astigmatism isn't serious.

 

[Thornless]

I'll give it a go, need to set some money aside over two pay periods so I don't mess up our budget. But thanks

 

[Sneakiecat]

Sounds pretty promising but I imagine that it would only work for certain types of blindness.

If your blind it works then.

I can see you wear glasses and because of that I gave those approximate statistics for the patients who weren't entirely blind. I have -4.5D and -4.25D and my eyedoctor told me I would still have around -0.5D in both eyes. What's the point in having a surgery if you still need to wear glasses?

I'd get it if I didn't have to wear such thick lenses. Even with the the "light-weight" lenses, mine are pretty thick and I'm constantly having to adjust them.