It might sound like a nursery rhyme, but scientists believe they have found a way to restore the vision in blind mice. The discovery could lead to treatments for humans with disabling eye diseases, according to ABC News.
Scientists work to repair vision
Scientists at the University of Oxford injected old, blind mice with retinal light-sensitive cells. In just two weeks the mice showed signs of restored vision.
“The cells are transplanted through a very, very fine needle,” said Robert MacLaren, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and lead author of a study describing the “seeding” hundreds of thousands of cells suspended in liquid between the two planes of the retina. “It’s like lifting up topsoil, sowing the seeds and then rolling it back into position.”
Moving the study to humans
While the study shows promising signs in mice, scientists say they won’t have definitive answers until the injections are tested on humans. Still, scientists are hopeful this discovery can change the lives of those struggling to see.
“If we transplant cells in large enough numbers at the same developmental stage, these cells are able to interact with themselves and with the retinal environment to re-form the light-sensing layer,” MacLauren said.
MacLauren says it’s unclear how much vision was restored in the mice, but the animals did react to light differently after the injections. Human testing will offer a more detailed look at the potential outcomes.
“Once we can address the safety issues, we can start clinical trials in patients,” MacLaren said. “If we can get to that stage, there is every potential that patients that are completely clinically blind will be able to see again to some extent.”
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
