Good news for visually impaired people. Thanks to new research published in Nature Biotechnology in which a team of international doctors were able to restore vision in blind person, that too with minimal invasion surgery. The pilot study was conducted in Iran and India in which they used a pig’s skin collage that resembles human cornea to restore blindness. Let us find out about this very important research that can change millions of blind people across the globe.
Tissue from pig skin is used as an eye implant to restore vision
Currently, the person suffering from corneal blindness can only get back vision after someone donates the cornea. Doctors implant this donated cornea to restore vision. But, the issue here was a scarcity of donated cornea. A team of international doctors including doctors from India found a solution for this.
They developed implants from the collagen protein of pig’s skin. This pilot study was published in Nature Biotechnology and was conducted in Iran and India (All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, New Delhi, India). Scientists picked 20 participants with advanced keratoconus 12 from Iran and 8 from India. In all these participants doctors performed minimally invasive surgery to place the implant. Thanks to laser surgical procedures that require no cuts and stitches.
They got back their vision
The surgery was without any complications. Post surgically doctors took all the precautions like timely administering of eye drops, a bandage contact lens was placed over the operated cornea for 1 week. Immediately following surgery the surgeon assessed the eye at 1 day, 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. An additional 24-month visit was subsequently scheduled.
Before surgical placement of the implant, 14 out of the 20 participants were totally blind. After two years, all of the 14 blind person restored their vision and restored tolerance to contact lens wear. This research gives hope to getting back the lost vision that must definitely bring tears of joy to many eyes.
Keep reading: 7 Easy Exercise for Eye Muscles to Improve Vision, Relieve Strain
Journal reference:
Rafat, M., Jabbarvand, M., Sharma, N. et al. Bioengineered corneal tissue for minimally invasive vision restoration in advanced keratoconus in two clinical cohorts. Nat Biotechnol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01408-w
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Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.
