Hydrogel Corneas Could See Millions Of People

There are currently millions of people waiting for a corneal transplant. Unfortunately, donors are hard to find. But an Australian researcher has discovered hydrogel corneas that could restore the eyes of millions of people.

Mrs. Hernandez is 60 years old and suffers from bullous keratopathy, ie cysts are present on her corneas. If the disease is not treated, the patient may lose her sight at some point.

To prevent this situation, the woman chose to have a cornea transplant. His vision did not improve after the operation, so he is now waiting for a new donor to repeat the operation.

Scientists have been looking for an alternative for many years. They want to find a way to replace the cornea without resorting to a donor, while avoiding the possibility of the body rejecting the new cornea.

What is the solution found? Hydrogel corneas. These prosthetic corneas were developed by Berkay Ozcelik, a medical researcher at the University of Melbourne (Australia).

With this new method, the corneas received by Mrs. Hernandez will be in optimal condition and compatible with her body. Thus, the hydrogel corneas could restore the woman’s vision.

Find out more about this remarkable discovery in the lines below.

Hydrogel corneas: treatment for several types of blindness

Let’s see first what the role of the cornea is to understand the impact of this incredible discovery. Here’s what you need to know:

• The cornea is a transparent structure located in the front of the eye.
• It protects you from germs, dust and other irritants.
• In addition, the cornea helps the eye to focus. When it hardens or loses its elasticity, you can no longer distinguish the details of surrounding objects.
• A healthy cornea is hydrated and transparent. But old age and eye diseases, like the one presented above, affect its tissue and functions.

Hydrogel corneas that can restore vision

Usually, when discussing organ transplants, people immediately think of vital organs in the body, such as the heart, liver or kidneys.

Few know that the corneas can also be transplanted, helping to restore the vision of people who have lost it. That is why a huge breakthrough in this field is considered truly revolutionary.

• First, patients will no longer have to wait for a donor to lose their life to receive a transplant. 
• In addition, it will no longer be necessary to undergo several transplants if the former has been rejected by the body.
• Hydrogel corneas are compatible with any individual because they are made of the patient’s stem cells, so the possibility of rejection is ruled out.

How was such an amazing discovery possible?

How can hydrogel corneas restore vision?

Here’s how the corneas are created:

• Corneal endothelial cells are applied in the laboratory over a layer of hydrogel. To do this, specialists collect DNA samples from the patient to avoid rejection by the body.

• The cells grow over the hydrogel layer, until the thin layer obtained is inserted into the patient’s eye through an almost imperceptible incision.
• The new cells have the ability to restore the function of pumping oxygen and water into the new cornea to keep it hydrated and transparent.
• The hydrogel layer is thinner than a human hair (50 microns), and after a few months it degrades on its own to allow new cells to continue their activity without artificial support.

The goal is for the new cornea to become permanent and for the immune system not to recognize it as a foreign body, thus avoiding rejection.

Future prospects for hydrogel-based corneas

So far, the tests have been done only in the laboratory and have been remarkably successful. Meanwhile, many people already consider this method an effective cure for many types of blindness.

Even the one who made the corneas, Berzay Ozcelik, wants to be one of the beneficiary patients.

Cultivation of corneal cells could be the greatest hope for millions of people who “see” the world in the dark or in the fog because of degraded or diseased corneas.

We look forward to the results of the tests performed on humans and hope they are positive.