Blind could be cured by stem cells grown in contact lenses, claim scientists

Researchers say the world breakthrough can "dramatically improve" the sight of patients with damage to their cornea – the clear outer shell of the eye – caused by disease or injury.

The effect is achieved within weeks, at little cost, little surgery as well as minimal hospital stay, say the scientists.

If early findings bear out then the treatment could be affective for thousands of patients in Britain and is so cheap it could be used for millions more in the Third World.

"We are very excited by this technique, " said Dr Nick Di Girolamo, lead researcher from the University of New South Wales in Australia. "The procedure is totally simple and cheap."

The research team removed tissue with regenerative stem cells from patients' own eyes and then multiplied them in the laboratory on the surface of a contact lens.

This was then placed back onto the damaged cornea for 10 days, during which the cells, which can turn into any other sort of cell, were able to recolonise and "patch" the damaged eye surface.

Within weeks the patients saw dramatic improvements in their vision.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5395062/Blind-could-be-cured-by-stem-cells-grown-in-contact-lenses-claim-scientists.html