Stem cell therapy could cure blindness

With the advances made in stem cell science and medical innovations, a cure for glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, may soon become a reality.

For many years scientists have focused on the capabilities and promise of stem cells that are the body’s master cells.

Stem cell science has established a workable theory for how stem cells are able to proliferate and develop into any tissue in the human body from blood to bone and whole organs.

Animal studies show promise
Scientists from the UK were able to restore vision to blind lab mice, by successfully grafting stem cell tissues taken from bone marrow on to the damaged nerves in the eye.

The researchers noted that with the healthy cells in place the eyes soon began to repair themselves and and full vision returned.

This scientific breakthrough signifies that millions of people with optical conditions such as glaucoma could be able to regain sight through the potential use of stem cell therapy.

Lead researcher Professor Keith Martin, a neuroscientist at Cambridge University and eye surgeon at Addenbrooke’s, stated, “Finding treatments to reverse blindness is no longer in the realm of science fiction.

“We are doing it in animal models and results are so encouraging that we hope to move forward to testing on humans soon. Stem cell treatment is moving forward very fast in many branches of medicine and we are seeing some of the best results in eyes.

“We hope to use cells from patients, taking samples from blood and bone marrow, and modify them. We can then use these stem cells to protect cells from glaucoma and regenerate ones that have been damaged.

“We have concentrated on glaucoma because it is so common, but there are quite a few diseases that affect the optic nerve, such as inflammatory diseases, so it could be used here too. Work will concentrate on protecting the eye from glaucoma damage, as well as reversing glaucoma blindness.”

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide after cataract and the number one cause of irreversible blindness, affecting more than 65 million people, over 6 million of whom are blind in both eyes.

The condition causes progressive damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated, glaucoma causes permanent visual damage resulting in blindness.

Glaucoma is a dangerous eye disease also because often there are no symptoms until serious damage has occurred. This is why glaucoma is referred to as the “silent blinding disease” or the “sneak thief of sight”.

Though there are no obvious symptoms of glaucoma, severe headaches, nausea, pain in or around the eye ball, vomiting and some visual disturbances are some indications of the onset of the disease.

Currently, the only treatment that can slow the progression of disease is to reduce the eye pressure medically or surgically.

However, for some patients, visual deterioration continues unabated even with this intervention. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.

The research was sponsored by a £320,000 grant from charity Fight for Sight, which is supporting today’s World Glaucoma Day.

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