Stem Cells And Blindness

Stem cells are not without controversy, but what cannot be doubted is their ability to heal at the cellular level and reverse many forms of disease. Age-related macular degeneration is the number one cause of blindness in the UK, but new research with stem cells might offer some hope for patients.

In a recent first of its kind procedure, stem cells from a donated embryo, smaller than the head of a pin were placed on a small patch and injected into the eye of a 60 year old woman who is blind as a result of AMD. While it won't be known for some time if the cells can reverse the blindness, researchers report that the injected cells are under the retina where they should be and appear to be healthy. Take a look at the video to see more about this trial and how researchers want to expand it.