Stem-cells give hope to blind

BLIND people have been given hope by a new stem-cell treatment that rejuvenates eyes.

There is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that slowly constricts vision, but a UK firm has reported early success with a procedure that helps to repair a damaged retina.

A million stem cells are injected into the back of the patient’s eyeball. Once there, they transform themselves into new light-sensitive cells called rods and cones that replace those lost prematurely to genetic flaws.

Tests on three patients – two men and a woman – who were legally blind produced exciting results, according to Olav Hellebo, chief executive of UK biotech firm ReNeuron.

Before the procedure, the three could read only the largest group of letters on a special eye test chart, but 18 days after being injected with the cells, their sight had improved to the point where they could read three letter sizes smaller.

One patient achieved sufficient progress to no longer be classified as legally blind.