fbpx

Stem Cell Treatment May Restore Vision to Patients with Damaged Corneas

Researchers working as part of the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center have developed a new way to identify and sort stem cells that may one day allow clinicians to restore vision to people with damaged corneas using the patient’s own eye tissue. They published their findings in Biophysical Journal.

“Damage to the limbus, which is where the clear part of the eye meets the white part of the eye, can cause the cornea to break down very rapidly,” said James Lauderdale, an associate professor of cellular biology in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and paper co-author. “The only way to repair the cornea right now is do a limbal cell transplant from donated tissue.”

Building on their findings related to cell softness, the research team also developed a microfluidic cell sorting device capable of filtering out specific cells from a tissue sample.

With this device, the team can collect the patient’s own tissue, sort and culture the cells and then place them back into the patient all in one day, said Lauderdale. It can take weeks to perform this task using conventional methods.

The researchers are quick to caution that more tests must be done before this technique is used in human patients, but it may one day serve as a viable treatment for the more than 1 million Americans that lose their vision to damaged corneas every year.

The group first started this research with the hope of helping children with aniridia, an inherited malformation of the eye that leads to breakdown of the cornea at an early age.

Because aniridia affects only one in 60,000 children, few organizations are willing to commit the resources necessary to combat the disease, Lauderdale said.

“Our first goal in working with such a rare disease was to help this small population of children, because we feel a close connection to all of them,” says Lauderdale, who has worked with aniridia patients for many years. “However, at the end of the day this technology could help hundreds of thousands of people, like the military who are also interested in corneal damage, common in desert conditions.”

View the complete press release here.

Featured Posts

Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

New Contact Lens Update Focuses on Sustainability for Practices, Manufacturers, and Patients

As the “Earth Month” comes to a close, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published a new guide to help practice staff and manufacturers minimize environmental impact year-round.

Learn More
Voila March-April Optik 2025 COS Silhouette Clear Sky

“Clear Sky” Pioneers Sustainable Eyewear

Silhouette unveils the first-ever eyewear made from a new bio-circular material, sourced from organic waste in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

Read more
Optometry Giving Sight logo a turquoise eye with black icons in the shape of people for the iris

Optometry Giving Sight Chair Receives Award from World Optometry Council

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announces that Dr. Susan Cooper has been named the recipient of the World Optometry Council’s (WCO) 2025 Distinguished Service Award in Memory of Dr. Uduak Udom.

Read more
March April 2025 Optik magazine- Breaking the Cycle How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

Breaking the Cycle: How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

A coordinated clinical approach and proactive communication can turn first-time contact lens wearers into loyal, long-term patients. Here's how to break the dropout cycle.

Read more
Plan B alternative logo and East Optical logo

Alternative Eyewear and East Optical Launch “IndiiPro Package” Indii Kids Frames with MyoPro® Myopia‑Management Lenses

Alternative Eyewear, in partnership with East Optical, unveil the IndiiPro package—pairing the new Indi kids’ children’s frame with East Optical’s clinically proven MyoPro® lenses.

Read more
Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

New Contact Lens Update Focuses on Sustainability for Practices, Manufacturers, and Patients

As the “Earth Month” comes to a close, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published a new guide to help practice staff and manufacturers minimize environmental impact year-round.

Learn More
Voila March-April Optik 2025 COS Silhouette Clear Sky

“Clear Sky” Pioneers Sustainable Eyewear

Silhouette unveils the first-ever eyewear made from a new bio-circular material, sourced from organic waste in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

Read More
Optometry Giving Sight logo a turquoise eye with black icons in the shape of people for the iris

Optometry Giving Sight Chair Receives Award from World Optometry Council

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announces that Dr. Susan Cooper has been named the recipient of the World Optometry Council’s (WCO) 2025 Distinguished Service Award in Memory of Dr. Uduak Udom.

Read More
March April 2025 Optik magazine- Breaking the Cycle How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

Breaking the Cycle: How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

A coordinated clinical approach and proactive communication can turn first-time contact lens wearers into loyal, long-term patients. Here's how to break the dropout cycle.

Read More
Plan B alternative logo and East Optical logo

Alternative Eyewear and East Optical Launch “IndiiPro Package” Indii Kids Frames with MyoPro® Myopia‑Management Lenses

Alternative Eyewear, in partnership with East Optical, unveil the IndiiPro package—pairing the new Indi kids’ children’s frame with East Optical’s clinically proven MyoPro® lenses.

Read More
Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

New Contact Lens Update Focuses on Sustainability for Practices, Manufacturers, and Patients

As the “Earth Month” comes to a close, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published a new guide to help practice staff and manufacturers minimize environmental impact year-round.

Learn More
Voila March-April Optik 2025 COS Silhouette Clear Sky

“Clear Sky” Pioneers Sustainable Eyewear

Silhouette unveils the first-ever eyewear made from a new bio-circular material, sourced from organic waste in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

Read more
Optometry Giving Sight logo a turquoise eye with black icons in the shape of people for the iris

Optometry Giving Sight Chair Receives Award from World Optometry Council

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announces that Dr. Susan Cooper has been named the recipient of the World Optometry Council’s (WCO) 2025 Distinguished Service Award in Memory of Dr. Uduak Udom.

Read more
March April 2025 Optik magazine- Breaking the Cycle How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

Breaking the Cycle: How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

A coordinated clinical approach and proactive communication can turn first-time contact lens wearers into loyal, long-term patients. Here's how to break the dropout cycle.

Read more
Plan B alternative logo and East Optical logo

Alternative Eyewear and East Optical Launch “IndiiPro Package” Indii Kids Frames with MyoPro® Myopia‑Management Lenses

Alternative Eyewear, in partnership with East Optical, unveil the IndiiPro package—pairing the new Indi kids’ children’s frame with East Optical’s clinically proven MyoPro® lenses.

Read more
Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

New Contact Lens Update Focuses on Sustainability for Practices, Manufacturers, and Patients

As the “Earth Month” comes to a close, the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) has published a new guide to help practice staff and manufacturers minimize environmental impact year-round.

Learn More
Voila March-April Optik 2025 COS Silhouette Clear Sky

“Clear Sky” Pioneers Sustainable Eyewear

Silhouette unveils the first-ever eyewear made from a new bio-circular material, sourced from organic waste in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

Read more
Optometry Giving Sight logo a turquoise eye with black icons in the shape of people for the iris

Optometry Giving Sight Chair Receives Award from World Optometry Council

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) announces that Dr. Susan Cooper has been named the recipient of the World Optometry Council’s (WCO) 2025 Distinguished Service Award in Memory of Dr. Uduak Udom.

Read more
March April 2025 Optik magazine- Breaking the Cycle How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

Breaking the Cycle: How to Curb Contact Lens Dropout

A coordinated clinical approach and proactive communication can turn first-time contact lens wearers into loyal, long-term patients. Here's how to break the dropout cycle.

Read more
Plan B alternative logo and East Optical logo

Alternative Eyewear and East Optical Launch “IndiiPro Package” Indii Kids Frames with MyoPro® Myopia‑Management Lenses

Alternative Eyewear, in partnership with East Optical, unveil the IndiiPro package—pairing the new Indi kids’ children’s frame with East Optical’s clinically proven MyoPro® lenses.

Read more