New Stem Cell Contact Lenses Cure Blindness

June 4, 2009 by Geeks are Sexy | View Comments

In a world-first breakthrough, UNSW medical researchers have used stem cells cultured on a simple contact lens to restore sight to sufferers of a range of blinding conditions. The technique could also apparently be adapted for use in other organs, such as the skin, because the skin behaves in a very similar manner to the cornea.

[Picture Source: Flickr (CC)]

Sharing is Sexy!
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • MySpace
  • FriendFeed
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
Related Posts:
  1. Shamed embryo ‘expert’ accused of scientific and financial fraud
  2. Breaking Out? Check Your Cell Phone!
  3. Study Shows Even Hands-Free Cell Phones Turn Drivers Into Idiots
  4. Science is Sexy: “The Cure for Cancer”
Cool posts on other blogs:

Posted in Science, Uncategorized | View Comments

Did you enjoy this post? If so, subscribe to the geeksaresexy RSS feed.
  • http://sampagan.tumblr.com Sam Pagan

    What if I’m not really blind but just have really bad eyesight? I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 3 due to astigmatisms. If I could have slightly better eyesight than I do now I would be all for these.

  • http://scienceismagic.com Jimmy Rogers

    Well I’m pretty certain that this technique is really mean to repair damaged eye tissues. Ironically, your eyesight problems are not caused by DAMAGE per say, but the fact that your eye is naturally shaped in a more cylindrical than spherical shape. This is the “natural” shape of your eye.

    Your condition is easily corrected through the use of a cylindrically cut lens (as opposed to this novel and probably somewhat finicky technique that uses stem cells). I’m not sure what kind of surgery could be used to correct eye shape…

    Btw, this is TOTALLY the kind of stuff that stem cells promise the biological sciences. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel if the body already “knows” how to repair itself.

  • http://www.timesmithing.com Althea Day

    Wow, sounds like they’ve done it. I would appreciate any feedback as to where someone could participate in a stem cell study or project that would restore jawbone or skin tissue to the jaw and roof of mouth.

blog comments powered by Disqus

| [Geeks are Sexy] Privacy Policy | Legal Disclaimer |