The Straits Times
Feb 2, 2013
By Poon Chian Hui
GETTING blind people to see again with just a wonder jab may well be a vision of the future.
Doctors and researchers from Britain's University of Oxford and the National University Hospital here have successfully reversed blindness in mice using a method involving an injection directly into the eye. They are optimistic their method could help people who have lost their vision.
The jab contains yet-to-mature stem cells from young mice. When transplanted into the eye, they managed to rebuild the entire retina layer that detects light. This is similar to replacing the film at the back of a camera.
"We found that if enough cells are transplanted together, they not only become light-sensing but also regenerate the connections required for meaningful vision," said NUH eye surgeon Mandeep Singh.
The findings of the study were published early last month in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. This is the first proof that using immature retinal cells can reverse blindness in a completely blind animal. Other studies have tested treatments meant only for partially blind animals.
"Hopefully, our findings will pave the way for a future cure in humans by injecting stem cells into the eye," said Dr Singh.
But he added there is much work to be done before this treatment is proven safe for patients, as "the cells have to be tested to make sure they won't lead to any side-effects when used in humans".
Oxford don Robert MacLaren said stem cells generated from the patient's own skin or blood cells could be used in such a treatment. "All the steps are there for doing this in patients in the future," said the ophthalmologist.
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