Stem cell research, while controversial, has always been touted as the future of disease treatment. There’s more evidence to support that claim, as it turns out that stem cell treatment can help cure blindness.
There are several clinical trials underway to assess how well such treatments work, but this week US-based Advanced Cell Technology announced their first results. It turns out that, four months after stem cells were injected into the eyes of two patients, the treatment seems safe, reports Medical Daily.
What’s more, the team also report visual improvements in the patients. The company says that it should be able to use the treatment on patients with currently incurable blindness — like age-related macular degeneration in older patients and Stargardt’s Disease.
The treatment uses the most controversial embryonic stem cells, which are manipulated in a way that allows them to grow into the types of cells that line the retina at the back of the eye. The two patients were both given an injection consisting of 50,000 retinal cells into one of their eyes.
The cells attached to the retinal membrane, and still survive four months later. The researchers have stated that the procedure seems safe, providing no signs of rejection, and results show that patients’ vision improved slightly.
Although embryonic stem cell research is incredibly controversial, there is no denying that curing blindness is an extremely impressive scientific advance. [Medical Daily via Slashdot; Image: Marta Starbucks]