Treatment offers blind hope

TWO PATIENTS suffering from corneal blindness have undergone treatment using stem cell research that could reverse their conditions.

Sylvia Paton (50), from Edinburgh, is the first patient in Scotland to take part in the ground-breaking research, which is also the first of its kind to be developed in the UK and has been pioneered by Scottish scientists and clinicians, including the Chief Scientist of Scotland, Professor Andrew Morris.

“I’m so excited about the possibilities of this new procedure,” said Sylvia.

“It has the potential to save vision, protect and give back vision to people like me.

“Even if only a little of my vision is restored, it would be better than nothing. Plus, it means that the team has gained valuable experience.”

The procedure involves growing stem cells from deceased donors and transplanting them onto the patient’s cornea.

The surgery initially removes the scarred and damaged part of the cornea before the stem cells are then transplanted onto the eye.

Over a period of months the cells could have the ability to halt and possibly even repair the damage to the patient’s eyes, restoring sight.

The research has been jointly funded by the UK Stem Cell Foundation and Scottish Enterprise in partnership with the Chief Scientist Office.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, who visited Sylvia at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, said: “If this proves to be successful, we could see many more people benefit as a result.

“Corneal epithelial stem cell transplantation represents one of the first of a new generation of regenerative therapies which we hope will transform medicine over the coming decades.”

Professor of Neural Development and head of the division of cell and developmental biology at the University of Dundee, Kate Storey, said the trial shows how stem cells can be used to treat important diseases.

Pictures: PA Above – Nicola Sturgeon chats with Sylvia Paton who has had the stem cell treatment. Right – Sylvia has her cornea checked.