Stem cells used to restore sight for corneal disease sufferers | The Australian
LEIGH DAYTON, Science Writer

Three Australians have had their sight restored thanks to their own stem cells and ordinary contact lenses.

Although the novel technique was used to reverse blinding corneal disease, it promises to be a quick, painless and cheap treatment for other visual disorders. It may even be useful for repairing damaged skin, the researchers reported today in the journal Transplantation.

The team leader, UNSW stem cell scientist Nick Di Girolamo said: 'We're quietly excited. We don't know yet if (the correction) will remain stable, but if it does it's a wonderful technique."

According to team member Stephanie Watson - an opthalmic surgeon with Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital - two of the three patients were legally blind in the treated eye; they can now read big letters on the eye chart. The third could read the top few rows of the chart but is now able to pass the vision test for a driving license.

Although it's early days yet, commented Peter McCluskey, an opthalomogist with Sydney University and director of the Save Sight Institute: 'But I think it's really exciting, innovative and novel."

Dr Di Girolamo said the idea to team stem cells with contact lenses came from an observation by opthalogist and POWH co-author Minas Coroneo that stem cells from the cornea, or front of the eye, stick to contact lenses.

To obtain the stem cells, Dr Watson took less than a millimeter of tissue from the side of each patients' cornea. Working with colleagues at POWH and UNSW, he cultured stem cells from the tissue in extended wear contact lenses.

Dr Watson then cleaned the surface of the patients' corneas and inserted the lenses. Within 10 to 14 days the stem cells began to attach to the cornea, replenishing damaged cells. Satisfied that the stem cells were doing their job, Dr Watson removed the lenses and the patients have been seeing with new eyes for the last 18 months.

Dr Di Girolamo said the group has applied for funds to continue the project, which he thinks will be welcomed particularly in poor nations: 'It's simple and easy for the patient and you don't need fancy equipment; just an opthalmic surgeon and a lab for cell culture."