[quote=BBC]
A part of the eye that is essential for vision has been created in the laboratory from animal stem cells, offering hope to the blind and partially sighted.
One day it might be possible to make an eye in a dish, Nature journal reports.
The Japanese team used mouse stem cells - immature cells that have the ability to turn into many types of body tissue.
With the right mix of nutrients, the cells changed and began to grow to make a synthetic retina.
Ultimately, scientists hope they can use this approach to make endless supplies of retinal cells or indeed whole retinas that can be transplanted into patients with visual impairment.
Eventually, it may even be possible to create a whole eye.
A US biotech company has already been granted a license to begin human trials of a stem cell treatment for blindness.
'Landmark discovery'
The retina is the name given to a diverse group of cells that line the inside of the back of eye.
Rays of light enter the eye and are focused onto the retina which produces a picture that is then is sent along the optic nerve for the brain to interpret.
The eye and the brain together produce the images that we see.
Retinal diseases can cause severe vision loss or blindness if left untreated.
Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the most common causes of blindness in old age, and involve the gradual and normally irreversible destruction of retinal cells.
In the Japanese study, the cultured stem cells spontaneously organised themselves into a complex structure that resembled the developing embryonic eye.
The three-dimensional, layered structure was reminiscent of the optic cup, a two-walled pouch-like structure, which ultimately develops into the inner and outer layers of the retina.
The scientists said they were surprised at how well the cells organised themselves with little intervention from them.
They said: "Self-formation of fully stratified 3D neural retina tissues heralds the next generation of generative medicine in retinal degeneration therapeutics, and opens up new avenues for the transplantation of artificial retinal tissue sheets, rather than simple cell grafting."
Professor James Bainbridge of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "Generation of a synthetic retina from embryonic stem cells is a landmark discovery that will help enormously our understanding of blinding eye disease.
"It is particularly exciting that this could also provide a source of cells for transplantation."
Barbara McLaughlan of the RNIB charity said: "This piece of research contributes to the ongoing efforts to harness stem cell research to benefit patients with a number of eye diseases.
"We welcome these efforts particularly where they move from early laboratory research in mice to trials in humans that are an essential part of developing safe and effective treatments."
[/quote]
Source:
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12963297[/url]
:science:
Eye can see how awesome this will be.
I can't wait till we can totally cure blindness
[QUOTE=Garik;29032460]I can't wait till we can totally cure blindness[/QUOTE]
There are many things that can make a person go blind.
[QUOTE=AtomiC0l;29032472]There are many things that can make a person go blind.[/QUOTE]
doesn't matter if you replace the whole eye, but then again thats treating the symptom not the cause, unless the cause was in the eye itself
These scientists are true visionaries.
[QUOTE=dude2193;29032483]doesn't matter if you replace the whole eye, but then again thats treating the symptom not the cause, unless the cause was in the eye itself[/QUOTE]
The cause of blindness does not have to be a thing in the eye itself.
When I read the article my eyes hurt.
[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;29032518]When I read the article my eyes hurt.[/QUOTE]
When I read the article, I went blind.
[QUOTE=MrJazzy;29032505]The cause of blindness does not have to be a thing in the eye itself.[/QUOTE]
What if my retina detaches ?
[quote]Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and [b]blindness.[/b] It is a medical emergency.[/quote]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal_detachment[/url]
Forgive me I entirely missread your first post I quoted and stated the obvious.
And we will never hear anything about this ever again.
[QUOTE=Super_Nova;29034680]And we will never see anything about this ever again.[/QUOTE]
Fix'd.
One step closer to fully rebuilding the human eye and ending my total paranoia of having any of mine damaged!
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;29035446]One step closer to fully rebuilding the human eye and ending my total paranoia of having any of mine damaged![/QUOTE]
shit yeah i'm fucking paranoid about my eyes bro
Stem cells, what can't they do?
[QUOTE=johan_sm;29035655]Stem cells, what can't they do?[/QUOTE]
Solid recreation of the end of the World
[QUOTE=xeonmuffin;29035676]Solid recreation of the end of the World[/QUOTE]
Seeing as steam cells create life, well they can't create destruction.
Reading that made me feel good.
I really hope they succeed in this sometime in the near future. My mom has been blind for the past 11 years and I never heard her complain. She deserves to be able to see again.
They seem to have a most, if not all, pieces of the puzzle.
Now they only gotta put shit together and create whatever they want
I have this:
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coats'_disease[/url]
Currently, I am crying tears of Joy. This is like a Gift from fucking God.
Thank God. My retinas are shitty because they didn't develop fully. Here's hoping I can have full vision.
I've got a friend who's blind in one eye, this'd be amazing for him.
Better idea, forget about him, he's an asshole who can't tell the difference between the internet and his group of friends.
[QUOTE=johan_sm;29035719]Seeing as steam cells create life, well they can't create destruction.[/QUOTE]
Foreshadowing.
Amazing feat no doubt definitely one step closer to helping people with eye problems even further ( i would say blindness but in fact most people who go blind actually have the problem originate in they're brain and not they're eye )
johan_sm shall be remembered for the rest of time
That was bad and you should feel bad.
[QUOTE=AtomiC0l;29032472]There are many things that can make a person go blind.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, like shooting someone in the head.
[QUOTE=xZippy;29035731]Reading that made me feel good.[/QUOTE]
Your avatar fits.
[editline]7th April 2011[/editline]
Oh shit so does mine (Sort of)
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