'Embryonic eye': A boon for retinal disorders

For those who have lost their eyesight or have minimal eyesight, glass or stone eyes can only provide them a relief with the way their face looks, but they fall short of providing the reassurance when you see a loved one. This is set to change in the next 10 years.

retina from stem cells

The scientists have developed an embryonic eye, which would lead to culturing and transplantation of retinas thereby rectifying and restoring vision.

The development came as a part of the research undertaken by the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research established in Japan. The research started with an experiment of insertion of embryonic stem cells into a test tube. The team of researchers than added proteins to the test tube in order to start the process of development. Though the team hoped to witness a development of a recognizable organ, they ended up witnessing the “the initial events that shape up the formation of mammalian eyes” as expressed by Prof. Ali, a significant member of the research team. The research team witnessed the formation of an "optical cup."

Mouse eyes were used for the experiment's sake. Nevertheless, the team cannot find a simple logic to declare that the same process can not be done for human eyes. By the process of special tissue culture, the team managed to grow floating clusters around mouse cells. When the proteins were added to trigger the process, within 10 days the result could be observed. The researchers showed in the filmed version of the process, how the cells clustered and the development of the optical cup took place. The optical cup structure was three-layered. In the further days, this developed into a six-layered structure, which possessed a stunning resemblance to the retina as it is at birth.

The retina, as the science claims, is the particular area where the light is switched to electrical and chemical signals, which are further transferred to the optical nerve. This counts as the normal optical process, which provides vision to the human eye. This has almost come like a breakthrough in eye treatment, as far as Britain is concerned, as half of the people having minimal or no eyesight suffer from retinal disorders.

Even as Prof. Yoshiki Sasai elucidates that the research outcome has stepped up as a solution to the century old problem of embryology, it will still be a decade before we can see successful retina implants. Although, with the promise of eradicating vision problems, it is worth the long wait.

Via: Telegraph