12:00 PM
Saturday 05 October 2024
A team of doctors has successfully closed a hole in a monkey’s retina using stem cells derived from a human embryo, resulting in a significant improvement in its vision. This breakthrough opens new horizons for treating age-related vision loss.
In an innovative experiment, Dr. Michiko Mandai and her colleagues at Kobe City Eye Hospital in Japan led an effort to grow stem cells and turn them into cells that form the basis of the retina, according to New Scientist.
The researchers indicated that this treatment may pave the way for more effective methods in treating small holes that form in the macula area, which is the central part of the retina. As we age, the clear fluid in the eye can thicken, pulling on the retina and tearing the tissue, resulting in a loss of vision clarity.
Doctors usually rely on transferring tissue from other parts of the eye to treat holes, but these procedures may not be permanent in some cases.
“Our results suggest that this method may become a safe and effective treatment option, with minimal risks, especially in cases of difficult perforations,” Dr. Munday explained.
The procedure also succeeded in developing retinal cells responsible for detecting light, which helped improve the monkey’s response to light and its eye stability.
These results indicate the possibility of applying this technology to humans, which opens a new horizon in treating vision problems.
