FUTURE FOR CATARACT SURGERY

 

• As we know, the current method of restoring vision in an individual with cataract is to remove the lens and replace it with an intraocular lens 

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• In very recent news (March 2016), a new approach has been taken to restore vision in the form of stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration:

 

• The lens is removed and the capsule remains

• Nearby lens epithelial stem cells are moved to the membrane

• Which in turn grows into a new crystalline lens

 

• A clinical trial in human infants was carried out and functional lens regeneration was displayed

  • Three months post-surgery showed a transparent biconvex lens structure 

 

• Currently, the CCC method used results in a large destruction of lens epithelial cells

  • This new approach has adopted a similar CCC method minus the large wound size and moves the incision to the periphery 

With such stem cell developments occurring, is there a future for IOLs?