What are corneal stem cell transplants?

Answer 1

Hi Jess,

A new treatment for individuals who may be totally blind because of certain eye diseases or because of scarring caused by abrasion or chemical burns to their corneas may make it possible for them to see again. If, because of accident or disease, the clear membrane covering the cornea is permanently destroyed and cannot be regenerated, blindness results. In these cases, traditional corneal transplants are not possible because a clear membrane formed by the eye of the recipient is necessary for survival of the transplanted tissue. Research now indicates that corneal stem cell transplants can restore and maintain the clear covering membrane of the cornea that may have been destroyed by disease or injury.

In this procedure, adult stem cells that have the ability to develop into the clear covering membrane of the cornea are first harvested from the corneas of cadavers and then transplanted into and around the edges of the diseased or damaged corneas of the blind recipient. The new stem cells then produce the clear corneal surface membrane required for normal vision. This technique is in the research stage and has limited applications so far. Problems associated with rejection of the foreign stem cells and suppression of the immune system of the recipient must still be resolved. However, this development in clinical medicine will be an option for effectrively treating blindness that was considered permanent in the pass.

Answer 2

Corneal stem cell transplants are new ground in the treatment of eyes damaged by injury or disease by transplanting stem cells directly onto the cornea. The cornea is a very successful tissue to transplant, consisting as it does of three clear layers and no blood vessels.
If you injure your cornea, the cells are supposed to grow new corneal cells but if the cells are destroyed, the conjunctiva (White part) will grow over. So instead of having a clear cornea that you can see through, you will have a cornea that is "veiled" which cannot transmit light thu s you won't be able to see.
It is where corneal stem cell transplant takes place where a new corneal stem is transplanted to replace the damage one. A piece of corneal stem cell from a donor is sutured in a damaged area of the recipient. The transplanted corneal stem cells divide and multiply, replacing missing cells and warding off the conjunctiva that in some cases invades the cornea and covers it like a blanket.
That's it!

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corneal_transplantation