Taking a cue from India, scientists based at the Centre for Sight in East Grinstead have become the first UK team to use adult stem cells in treating blindness. Their success mirrors years of similar work conducted by Indian scientists based at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.

One of 20 British patients to benefit from the new transplantation surgery performed by Sheraz Daya, is Deborah Catlyn from Reading. Blind since 2002, Deborah is now able to see again thanks to the procedure which uses adult stem cells.

Constantly regenerating stem cells, made just under the suface of the limbal region of the eye, protect and keep the outermost layer of the eye clear. Without sufficient limbal cells (a result of burns, chemical accidents or disease), the clear cornea becomes opaque, and vision become impaired.

The technique involved harvesting adult limbal stem cells from dead donors, living relatives or even the patients themselves. These are cultured in the laboratory for two to three weeks. Says Daya, “We lay the cultured stem cells on top of the cornea and then cover them with amniotic membrane, which contains growth factors that help the cells to grow. The results are quite dramatic and, give years on, 7 of the first 10 patients still have good vision.”

Generating entire new organs using the patient’s own genetic material can overcome rejection of the transplanted organ and cancel the need for immunosuppressive drugs. The work of Daya has brought us closer to realising this dream.