Three Australians have had their sight restored thanks to their own stem cells and ordinary contact lenses. Although the novel technique was used to reverse blinding corneal disease, it promises to be a quick, painless and cheap treatment for other visual disorders. It may even be useful for repairing damaged skin, the researchers reported today in the journal Transplantation. The team leader, UNSW stem cell scientist Nick Di Girolamo said: ‘We’re quietly excited. We don’t know yet if (the correction) will remain stable, but if it does it’s a wonderful technique.’ According to team member Stephanie Watson – an opthalmic surgeon with Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital – two of the three patients were legally blind in the treated eye; they can now read big letters on the eye chart. The third could read the top few rows of the chart but is now able to pass the vision test for a driving license. Although it’s early days yet, commented Peter McCluskey, an opthalomogist with Sydney University and director of the Save Sight Institute: ‘But I think it’s really exciting, innovative and novel.’ Dr Di Girolamo said the idea to team stem cells with contact […]