Azerbaijan National Academy of Science

Cataracts can be cured by using a patient’s own stem cells to regrow a ‘living lens’ in their eye, restoring sight in just three months, scientists have shown.

In research described as ‘remarkable,’ surgeons reversed blindness in 12 infants born with congenital cataracts by removing the damaged lens and coaxing nearby cells to repair the damage.

It could pave the way for millions of older people in Britain having their sight restored using their own cells.

Currently, cataracts are treated by inserting an artificial plastic lens into the eye, but that can lead to infections, inflammation and a night time halo effect in vision. For babies the risks from surgery are even greater because the eye is still developing.

But using the new technology scientists at the University of California, San Diego, showed that cataracts without the need for a transplant. They now plan to start work on age-related cataracts which occur when clumps of protein build up over time, creating a clouding effect.

"An ultimate goal of stem cell research is to turn on the regenerative potential of one's own stem cells for tissue and organ repair and disease therapy," said Dr Kang Zhang, chief of Ophthalmic Genetics and founding director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

"The success of this work represents a new approach in how new human tissue or organ can be regenerated and human disease can be treated, and may have a broad impact on regenerative therapies by harnessing the regenerative power of our own body.

"We believe that our new approach will result in a paradigm shift in cataract surgery and may offer patients a safer and better treatment option in the future."

telegraph.co.uk