Science is slowly catching up with science fiction. Doctors can transplant the heart, lung, liver, kidneys and more recently hand transplants. Parts of the eye such as corneal transplants are also available.
The holy grail would be an eye transplant or the ability to regrow an eye with the help of stem cells. While there is no real prospect of achieving this in the near future there is continuing research working towards this end.
The three main impediments to transplanting a human eye are maintenance of donor eye viability, optic-nerve regeneration and restoration of topographic organisation, and avoidance of immunological rejection.
Reattaching the millions of nerves of the optic nerve to allow transfer of the information from the eye to the brain is the greatest impediment to achieving a viable eye transplant. If we are able to achieve this we still have the complications of restoring the circulation to the eye, balancing pressure of the transplanted eye and maintaining corneal health.
The earliest record of an eye transplant dates back to 1885 when a rabbit eye was transplanted into a human orbit. Since then there has been numerous attempts to transplant a mammalian eye. Although some of the studies establish success in other capacities, no visual function was recovered following transplantation.
There has been some success with eye transplantation performed in cold-blooded vertebrate.
A frog with the transplanted artificial eye on the left.
Professor Makoto Asashima of Tokyo University in Japan has used stem cell-like cells from a frog embryo to grow complete eyes which were then successfully transplanted into tadpoles.
Professor Asashima believes that his groundbreaking research could pave the way for the same procedure to be used to restore vision in humans.
So far, Professor Asashima and his team have transplanted new eyes into about 60 tadpoles, of which nearly three-quarters could then see. And 7 of the transplanted eyes have survived the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog.
Read this article:
Eye transplants and stem cells. - Artificial Eyes ...
- Mainer with MS to go to Mexico for stem cell transplantation ... - August 22nd, 2022
- Maine health care workers have until Monday to reveal names in lawsuit over vaccine mandate - Yahoo News - July 11th, 2022
- April 28 morning update: The latest on the coronavirus and Maine - Bangor Daily News - April 28th, 2020
- Indy Q&A: Cortez Masto wants government to take greater charge of mask, glove supply chain - The Nevada Independent - March 28th, 2020
- Saving theAmerican chestnut - The Recorder - February 29th, 2020
- My Turn: The malaise of medical care - Concord Monitor - December 3rd, 2019
- 145 orthopedic surgeon moves in 2019 through Q3 - Becker's Orthopedic & Spine - October 10th, 2019
- Stem Cell Therapy in Maine Stem cell injection & Pain ... - September 16th, 2019
- Balding & Greying May Soon Be A Thing Of The Past. Get Your ... - Instinct Magazine - August 16th, 2017
- A Guide to Time Lag and Time Lag Shortening Strategies in Oncology-Based Drug Development - Biotech Blog (blog) - August 16th, 2017
- Keep an eye on safety - Shelbyville Times-Gazette - August 16th, 2017
- Honey Bees and Blueberry Pollination - University of Maine - September 28th, 2016
- QMB Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Satellite ... - September 23rd, 2016
- Maine Warden needs stem cell transplant | The Bridgton News - August 30th, 2016
- Stem Cell Therapy - Maine Veterinary Medical Center - August 29th, 2016
- Maine Boy With Autism Improves After Stem Cell Treatment - August 4th, 2016
- Brunswick woman taking gamble that stem cells will restore ... - August 4th, 2016
- Fat Stem Cell Therapy - October 19th, 2015
- History | Boston Children's Hospital - Stem Cell Research - October 19th, 2015
- Maine Center for Research in STEM ... - University of Maine - July 2nd, 2015
- Healthy stem cells donated by German man give Kerala girl ... - June 5th, 2015
- VICTORIES & SUCCESS STORIES | The Stem Cell Blog | Page 8 - January 10th, 2015
- Current stem cell treatments for spinal cord injury - November 25th, 2014
- Advanced Cell Technology changes its name to Ocata - November 19th, 2014
- Lund Stem Cell Center | Medicinska fakulteten, Lunds ... - October 27th, 2014
- Stem-Cell - Pathlights - October 27th, 2014
- Maine (Stem Cell) - what-when-how - August 24th, 2014
- Newborn screening expansion offers early diagnosis and treatment to infants with SCID - August 22nd, 2014