Author: Ian Murnaghan BSc (hons), MSc - Updated: 18 August 2015 | Comment

For people who are blind, the thought of a treatment to restore their sight may seem like an impossible dream. But it may eventually become a reality after scientists last year were able to restore the eyesight of a blind person. The treatment works by replacing those cells in the eye know as retinal cells that have been damaged or worn out from diseases such as macular degeneration. For the elderly in particular, macular degeneration is a common concern as it can lead to enormous loss of vision in one or both eyes.

When macular degeneration strikes, it affects the area of the eye that is important for allowing us to see fine details. The disease may progress very slowly so that a person barely notices any changes at all. Or, it might progress rapidly, causing significant vision loss.

Interestingly enough, previous studies using stem cells had failed to restore sight. One reason for the problem relates to the choice of stem cells. In the most recent study, researchers used stem cells that were more mature than the ones previous researchers had used. The choice proved successful as the stem cells developed into photoreceptors and were able to join with the nerves that lead to the brain.

Researchers hope to see these kinds of transplants happening on a greater scale in approximately ten years. With many patients suffering from diseases in the eye that cause photoreceptors to die, this research offers a way to provide photoreceptor transplantation, helping to restore eyesight for many people around the world. The use of a patient's own cells also avoids the potential for immunological rejection, a threat that comes with other types of treatment.

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avi - Your Question:

My daughter problem is optic nerve damages by birth she is 11 yrars. Kindly advise as per given details. in possible stem cell therapy.

Our Response:

ExploreStemCells - 19-Aug-15 @ 12:18 PM

avi - 18-Aug-15 @ 4:09 PM

Creative Animodel - 12-Aug-15 @ 10:02 AM

aman - Your Question:

My dougter has cojenital flicum fold in retina, can stem cell cure her vission

Our Response:

ExploreStemCells - 11-Aug-15 @ 10:16 AM

aman - 8-Aug-15 @ 6:45 PM

david and son - 7-Aug-15 @ 1:47 AM

There is no one doing this in the UK currently, as it is still very much at the research stage of development. You may find certain other countries advertising fee-paying stem cell treatments for specific conditions. However, please be aware these treatments are not backed or endorsed by scientific evidence.

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