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Scientists Grow Human Eye Lens in Lab
5 Nov
Summary
- Miniature human eye lenses have been successfully grown from stem cells.
- These lab-grown lenses closely resemble natural human eye lenses.
- The breakthrough could lead to new treatments for cataracts and eye diseases.
A significant breakthrough has been achieved as scientists have successfully grown miniature human eye lenses in a laboratory setting for the first time. This advancement was made possible using stem cells, with the resulting transparent lenses closely mimicking the natural ones found inside the human eye. The research, conducted by British scientists from Anglia Ruskin University and Cardiff University, in collaboration with the University of Osaka, Japan, offers promising prospects for treating conditions like cataracts.
The lab-grown lenses possess key biological features of real human lenses and can multiply to form more lens-like tissue. This development is crucial as obtaining and studying developing human eye lens tissue is exceptionally difficult. Researchers believe these artificial lenses will be invaluable for testing new medications, enhancing the understanding of vision-affecting diseases, and exploring future regenerative treatments.
This innovation could also aid in investigating genetic lens disorders present from birth. The ultimate hope is that this technology will contribute to treatments that reduce the current reliance on artificial lens replacement surgery, which is the most common procedure on the NHS, with approximately 650,000 cases annually. The findings were published in the npj Regenerative Medicine journal.
