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Stem Cell Treatment Gives Man Eyesight

by Amar Toor on December 23, 2009 at 05:38 PM

Fifteen years ago, Russell Turnbull of Great Britain lost nearly all vision in his right eye after getting sprayed with ammonia while trying to break up a fight. Doctors diagnosed him with Limbal Stem Deficiency, a painful infliction that not only hampered his vision, but also required ongoing treatment and confined him to a life of financial hardship. Now, however, at the age of 38, Turnbull's sight has been restored, thanks to an experimental stem cell grafting procedure. All doctors had to do was remove tissue from the patient's left eye, place it in his right, and with the wave of a magic wand, Turnbull's vision was back to normal.

For now, the procedure is limited to patients with full vision in at least one eye, though many are optimistic that future methods will allow cells to be harvested from anywhere in the body for optical regeneration. Engadget has some video further explaining the procedure, and potential implications for future stem-cell therapeutic techniques. Turnbull will undoubtedly enjoy his first panoramic holiday season in a long time -- and we're happy for it. Hopefully, his is just the first of many feel-good stories to come. [From: Engadget]

Tags: medical, science, stem cell, StemCell

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