Research from the US indicates that retinal implants made from stem cells are safe to use in humans.
The indications from the first human trial to use embryonic stem cells to treat eye diseases are that the treatment is safe. Two patients received the retinal implants and both are still doing well, four months after receiving them.
The treatment involves taking healthy stem cells and changing them into cells that line the back of the human eye. These cells are then injected into a diseased eye. Researchers hope they will be able to help restore vision for people with eye conditions such as Stargardt’s disease.
Both patients involved in the trial were over 50 and had poor enough vision to be registered blind. Each was injected with the retinal implants and the evidence suggested that the cells attached to eye’s membrane and were able to survive.
The study was designed to test the safety of the treatment and the cells showed no signs of abnormal growth or rejection. The researchers added that the patients’ vision also showed signs of improvement but warned that it was to early to draw any conclusions over the effectiveness of the treatment.
Moorfields Eye Hospital in London are also beginning their own trials of the technique.
Researchers have stated that embryonic stem cells were used in the treatment and warn that further trials could face oppositions from those who are opposed to using these types of cells on ethical grounds.
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