Stem Cell Treatment for Eyes

A remarkable story of a Canadian university student who developed a progressive degenerative eye condition through contact lens use highlights the potential for stem cells in correcting visual impairment.  Taylor Binns was nearly blind before undergoing a stem cell transplant thanks to his younger sister at Toronto Western Hospital.  He had developed a rare condition where the stem cells in his own cornea became damaged and incapable of conducting the ongoing replacement needed to maintain the clarity of the cornea.  His eyes blistered, his vision was cloudy, and he suffered extreme pain for many years before the treatment became possible.


As the first patient undergoing the procedure the physicians are optimistic that his successful recovery means he won’t have to undergo a corneal transplant as first thought.  As the procedure used donor stem cells he will have to take immunosuppressants for a number of years and needs a second transplant for his other eye.  Dr. Slomovic, of Toronto Western Hospital is hopeful that the success of the procedure means that dozens more who suffer from this condition can have their sight restored using stem cells.

Stem Cell Treatment can Correct Vision Problems