Solve Vision Impairment through Stem Cell

Sight is beyond doubt one of the most important senses in life. We constantly rely upon it to navigate through surroundings. Loss of vision can deliver a blow to human endeavor as several diseases & disorders causing blindness are currently difficult or impossible to treat. Thanks to researchers now using stem cell technology to explore new approaches to eye treatment for loss of vision, darkness surrounding vision impairment may be relieved.

Importance of Eyes

Eye is the main organ responsible for our ability to see & explore the world around us. Blessed with an ability to detect light within the surrounding environment & transfer this information to the brain, eye is a very delicate yet complex made up of multiple specialized components, far more advanced than the best electronic camera we have designed as of now. Tissues of the eye are made up of many types of cells, where each is assigned a specific job to perform.

Repairing the Cornea

Presently, repairing the cornea is the only stem-cell based therapy for eyes which has proven to be effective in clinical trials. It is still not widely available as further clinical studies have to be conducted with larger number of patients before it can be approved by regulatory authorities for widespread use as treatment.

Growing Limbal Stem Cells in Lab

Ongoing research is leading to improvement in methods for growing limbal stem cells in laboratories. Transplantation techniques have also improved, but limitations still exist in the quantity of new cells that can be obtained from eye samples. Researchers are investigating possibility of using different approaches including embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells so as to generate limbal stem cells in lab. A breakthrough from these approaches could remove need for complex surgeries from donors while providing an endless source of large amounts of limbal stem cells for patients who need them. 

Also Read Complete Detail About How Stem Cell Therapy Works

New Treatments for Retinal Diseases

·         Replacing Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells – Retinal pigment Epithelial or RPE cells deliver on a number of important counts, including looking after adjacent retina. In case these cells stop functioning properly due to disease or damage, certain portions of the retina would die. Since retina is an essential component of eye which is responsible for detecting light, it would lead to the onset of blindness. A variety of diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Leber’s congenital aneurosis & retinitis pigmentosa can damage RPE cells & accelerate deterioration.

·         Replacing Retinal Cells – In several cases where vision is lost, basic problem lies with malfunctioning of the retinal circuitry. Many different disorders occur particularly when specialized cells within the circuit either die or stop working effectively. Despite the complicated nature of retina than the other components of the eye, researchers are hopeful that if a source of new retinal cells is found, they may be able to replace dying or damaged cells so as to restore proper functioning of retina. Moreover, this approach may also be helpful in repairing damage caused to the optic nerve.

Silver Lining for Eye Treatments

Stem cell technology beholds great potential for improving lives of people suffering from visual disorders. Number of studies are currently undertaken so as to develop new therapies for treatment & prevention of loss of vision. Development of understanding is central to research as to how different types of stem cells behave & best ways to harness their potential for application in treatments of the eye. Stem cells in no way are a single stop generic cure, but they definitely hold exciting potential for production of biological components that can be employed for repair jobs of diseased or damaged specialized tissue.