Research in new applications for stem cell therapy has led to roaring biological breakthroughs. Scientists have been able to restore the sight of numerous patients suffering from severe eye damage. By transplanting healthy stem cells, those who suffered from chemical damages in the eye could have then repaired.
Italian researchers tested this method in 107 eyes. The test was partially successful in 14 of the eyes and completely successful in 82. This is method of treatment was seen as a leaping success when a man regained vision after suffering from severe damage for over 50 years.
Although this procedure is not effective for patients with macular degeneration, optic nerve damage, or any retina-related damage, it has produced results in those with cornea damage. This involves chemical burns from harsh cleaning agents in home and work environments. Statistics show that thousands of such accidents occur annually.
This treatment will also not work for those who suffer from complete blindness in the two eyes. This is because doctors have to use healthy tissue as the blueprint for multiplication. After a healthy adult stem cell is reproduced, it can be transplanted into the patients damaged eye.
The beauty of this treatment also lies in the fact that no anti-rejection drugs need to be administered since the tissues being transplanted are from the patient’s body. With further research, scientists hope to be able to treat other diseases relating to diabetes and heart failure.
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