A groundbreaking study has identified previously unknown stem cells in the human retina that could potentially restore vision in mice with a common eye disorder, reports Emily Cooke at Live Science. These cells, discovered in the light-sensitive retina, offer hope for reversing vision loss from conditions like macular degeneration. However, further research is needed to adapt this treatment for human use. Cooke writes:
Scientists have identified never-before-seen cells in the human eye that could potentially help reverse vision loss caused by common diseases, such as macular degeneration.
The researchers discovered the cells in the retina, a light-sensitive structure at the back of the eye that is vital for vision. The cells were found in donated samples of fetal tissue.
The scientists also identified the same cells in lab-grown models of the human retina — and when they tried transplanting those models into mice with a common eye disorder, it restored the rodents’ vision. […]
Taken together, these early findings suggest that hNRSCs could be used to develop new treatments for retinal eye disorders in humans. But more research will be needed to confirm the potential of these cells for restoring the vision of human beings.
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