We all hear about the purported wonders of stem cells. Proponents of its research and use describe their ability to regenerate lost tissue; to potentially restore a paraplegic’s capability to walk; to change the face of human biology forever.
At the moment these claims have yet to be fully substantiated. Most of the time, the potential health benefits of stem cells are explored only in science fiction. That is until now…
Sight Unseen
Garry Morse was an office administrator on his way home. Suddenly he was assaulted by a gang, numbering some 18 to 20 guys. They threw ammonia into his eye, burning his cornea with pain he described as “agonizing…the worst pain I have ever felt.”
Paramedics took him to the hospital. His cornea had been scarred. Nerves in eyelid too suffered severe damage. A number of surgeries removed the scar tissue, but his sight only slightly improved.
It would be two years after the attack that stem cells would come into Morse’s life. His eye surgeon suggested he take part in a clinical trial. Utilizing stem cells and tissue from his healthy cornea, the doctor hoped to restore his sight.
Under the Knife
Dr. Francisco Figueiredo’s procedure was outstanding. It began with looking at the limbus—the edge of the cornea in which stem cells are produced. The limbus supplies the cornea with stem cells that continuously renew its surface. If the limbus is injured this process is interrupted, as happened to Morse.
The eye surgeon took a biopsy of the healthy limbus. With the tissue, he placed it on an amniotic membrane (taken from the inside of the placenta). This rich tissue encourages the biopsy cells to expand across the membrane until it’s covered.
Once covered with grown stem cells, Dr. Figueiredo prepared the damaged eye to receive the transfer. Any remaining cornea scar tissue is removed. The membrane of stem cells is cut to fit over the damaged cornea. With additional placental layer for the protection, the operation is complete.
In just a few hours the membrane becomes attached to the damage cornea. Over the next couple of days, the stem cells expanded across the cornea. They gradually renewed the surface just as a properly functioning limbus would have. Three days after the operation, the bandages were taken off.
Morse was shocked that by only the third day, there was already improvement. With each layer of bandage stripped away, he began to see light. Then shapes, colors, objects, and people.
Morse’s eyesight has recovered substantially. Obviously it’s not fully recovered, but he says it’s just a little worse than his good eye. And while his case was a great success, the procedure is still very much in the trial phase.
As with any brand new medical treatment, not everything is known. There are complications: infection, cornea puncture, bleeding, and failure of the stem cells to proliferate once transplanted.
This procedure has been performed on 25 patients. Though the long term success has still to be seen, at the moment all 25 treatments were successful and all are healthy. This story is once again a reminder of the incredibly modern age we find ourselves in.
Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you. Check out our Twitter, Facebook page, and website.
Leave a Reply