Artificial corneas could restore vision in humans!
A British eye surgeon hopes to perform the country’s first artificial cornea transplant and initiate a UK trial of the procedure by early next year.
Millions worldwide could benefit from the ground-breaking eye surgery procedure that’s able to correct blindness caused by malnutrition, disease or old age.
A healthy cornea lets light into the back of the eye to the retina so that people can see.
Damaged or scarred tissue on the cornea can cause blurred vision or loss of eyesight altogether.
Scientists are able to create a synthetic cornea by growing human collagen in yeast.
The collagen is then molded into the shape of a cornea, which is about the same shape as a contact lens.
The synthetic replacement is stitched in place of the old, damaged tissue.
The patient’s cells and corneal nerves then grow into the implant.
As donor corneas are in short supply, if scientists are able to create artificial corneas and skip the process of waiting for a donor, it’ll mean wonders for people who are visually impaired.
原文影片請看此
http://bit.ly/1SK5mYV
