The lens slowly becomes cloudy with age

A method that could become superfluous in the future. Scientists at the University of California in San Diego have achieved something that sounds like science fiction. They have created a new lens from stem cells!

To do this, the physicians led by Dr. Kang Zhang extracted so-called lens epithelial stem cells in a laboratory experiment. These are produced again and again in the envelope of the lens. Previously, the cloudy lens was removed via a tiny incision in the side of the eye without damaging the envelope. Amazingly, new lens tissue grew back within the next four to five weeks.

Does this also work in humans?

The researchers operated on twelve children with congenital cataracts using the new method. After three months, new lenses had formed in all of them, and after eight months they could all see normally. Dr. Zhang believes it is likely that his method can also be applied to older patients. Although the activity of lens stem cells decreases with age, new ones are produced throughout our lives. However, a method still needs to be found to remove the diseased lens, which hardens with age, without damaging the lens envelope.