A revolutionary technique that promises to restore the sight of millions has been carried out for the first time worldwide in a British hospital.
Taking as little as 45 minutes, the procedure offers hope to those with age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults globally.
It affects more than 600,000 adults in the UK, blighting the lives of a quarter of the over-60s.
In the breakthrough developed at University College London, doctors inserted a patch of stem cells into the retina of a woman who has lost her central vision.
They hope the procedure, carried out at Moorfields Eye Hospital in the capital, will restore the 60-year-old’s sight but will not know the outcome until December.
However, doctors said she suffered no complications and her eye is recovering well from the procedure.
This first operation has begun a clinical trial involving ten patients. If successful, the technique could be available on the NHS within two-and-a-half years.
The procedure, which has attracted the support of medical giant Pfizer, is carried out under local anaesthetic. It involves taking a single embryonic stem cell and growing it into a 6mm patch of 100,000 retinal pigment cells.
That patch is then rolled into a thin tube, which is injected through a tiny slit in the eye.
Once unfurled, it is placed behind the retina where scientists hope it will replace the faulty cells.
The operation is a milestone in the London Project to Cure Blindness established ten years ago with the aim of curing vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
The first step has been carried out on the wet form of the condition when a patient bleeds at the back of the eye. But scientists are confident it could also be used for the more common dry AMD, which affects 85 per cent of British sufferers.
The Latest on: Age-related macular degeneration
[google_news title=”” keyword=”age-related macular degeneration” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Age-related macular degeneration
- Over 50? Find out more about this age related eye problem with Stephen Olwell Opticianson May 16, 2024 at 6:55 am
Hi there, Stephen here again with some more information regarding your eyes and their health.Sorry it’s been so long. Last summer I wrote an article about sun exposure that seemed to catch the ...
- Cataract Surgery in Patients With Diabetes and Age-Related Macular Degenerationon May 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The timing of surgery is critical as an unclear view of the retina may delay possible treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (e.g., with photodynamic therapy). Patients should ...
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Putting a Hole in Our Worldon May 10, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Estimates show that by 2040, age-related macular degeneration may affect nearly 300 million people worldwide. And we are very limited in our ability to treat or prevent it. Here's what to know.
- With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Comes Higher Rates of Renal and Thyroid Canceron May 9, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Renal and thyroid cancer rates are 16% and 10% higher, respectively, in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
- Wet vs. Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)on May 9, 2024 at 9:37 am
In dry AMD, light-sensitive cells in the macula gradually break down, while in wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels start to grow beneath the retina.
- Macular Degenerationon May 5, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This is also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as the major risk factor for this is aging. It is an eye disorder characterized by a number of conditions negatively affecting the macula.
- Macular Degeneration: 11 Ways to Protect Your Eyeson May 2, 2024 at 9:17 am
It is crucial to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms associated with AMD to detect and manage the condition early.
- What Is Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration?on May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
To help detect or confirm a diagnosis of wet AMD, your doctor may perform other tests and procedures, including the following: Both dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involve ...
- Macular Degeneration vs. Glaucomaon April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Both macular degeneration and glaucoma can lead to vision loss and blindness. But they have different causes and treatments. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma are two of the most ...
- Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degenerationon April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Choroidal neovascularization is the primary cause of visual loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Current treatments, proven to offer a benefit for these patients through ...
via Bing News