Scientists from the University of California and biotechnology company, Advanced Cell Technology performed the trials, which involved two patients young and old, with different types of macular degeneration. Both patients were registered as legally blind before the study began.
After injecting the "reprogrammed" embryonic stem cells into the patients' eyes, the researchers reported significant improvement in their vision abilities.
Reuters Health reported the younger participant “could count fingers, and after one month she could read the top five letters on the eye chart. She could see more color and contrast, has started using the computer, and for the first time in years can read her watch and thread a needle."
According to the same article, the older patient had similar improvements. After the study, she went to a place she hasn’t been in years: the shopping mall.
This certainly is a major breakthrough for ophthalmology and stem cell researchers, however, because the study used embryonic stem cells, there is bound to be some opposition.
To learn more, read the full article: Stem Cell Vision Treatment Sees First Success
No comments:
Post a Comment