New UK Stem Cell Cure for Blindness

[3113]

Age related blindness, that is:

BRITISH scientists have developed the world’s first stem cell therapy to cure the most common cause of blindness. Surgeons predict it will become a routine, one-hour procedure that will be generally available in six or seven years’ time.

The treatment involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. It was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital....

The treatment will tackle age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness. It affects more than 500,000 Britons and the number is forecast to increase significantly as people live longer. The disease involves the loss of eye cells. Under the new treatment, embryonic stem cells are transformed into replicas of the missing cells. They are then placed on an artificial membrane which is inserted in the back of the retina.

Rest of the story here.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That is excellent news. I've known too many elderly who were otherwise healthy but who just withered away and died because they could no longer see. Now, the next step is growing stem cells in vats.

 

[shereads]

Wow.

.

 

[shereads]

Now, the next step is growing stem cells in vats.

Search Dick Cheney's basement.

 

[JamesSD]

Hooray, Science!