Curing blindness with stem cells

British scientists have just performed the first stem cell treatment surgery to treat macular degeneration on a female patient.

The patient had stem cells implanted into the retinal pigment epidermis. Photo: Reuters

The macula is the name of an area in the center of the retina that helps us see clearly when we need to read, recognize words, or drive. People with macular degeneration will gradually lose their central vision but still have good peripheral vision.

In the experimental treatment, stem cells will be implanted into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE is a special type of cell in the eye that acts as a wall between the retina and a layer of blood vessels called the choroid, which nourishes the retina and processes its waste. In people with macular degeneration, the RPE dies, or loses its function, causing gradual loss of vision.

The experimental treatment is the result of 10 years of research in the Cure Blindness Project between Moorfield Eye Hospital (UK), UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the National Institute for Health Research.

The surgery was considered a success by doctors, however, they will have to wait until December to be sure whether the patient will regain his vision.

A further 10 patients will receive the same treatment over the next 18 months. Around 700,000 people in the UK currently have macular degeneration.

According to Chinhphu.vn