First trials for eye implants using stem cells have proved to be remarkably successful, offering encouragement and hope for those with vision problems. Advanced Technology has tested an implant technique on two patients in order to determine whether the technology is safe. The study involved an elder woman suffering from macular degeneration and another one suffering from Stargardt’s disease, both registered as blind.
Both of them were given an injection containing 50,000 retinal pigment epithelium cells in one eye. 16 weeks into the study, things went well as there were no abnormal cell growth and the new cells have attached to the eye as hoped. Moreover, the cells survived without any noticeable side effects that could indicate rejection or other unpleasant symptoms. The procedure has been show to have made slight vision improvements.
Since trials of this sort are only in the beginning, the technology is still years from being approved and being available on a large scale. With safety aspects along with patient expectations in mind, the priorities are clearly established. Still, the prospect of new medical technologies with the potential to help millions is definitely remarkable.
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