Bioengineered Cornea
Source-The IndianExpress
Context
A new surgical method was used by researchers on study subjects, where bioengineered corneas from pig collagen can restore sight.
Key Points
- The clear, outermost layer of the eye is the cornea, on damage leads to blindness.
- Approximately 12.7 million were blind on damage to the cornea, affecting those in poorer countries where there is a scarcity of donated human corneas.
- Researchers in Sweden were able to create a successful alternative bioengineered cornea implant made of collagen derived from pig skin.
- The implant was used to successfully restore the vision of 20 people in India & Iran, most of whom were blind due to keratoconus, a disease that leads to thinning of the cornea.
- Researchers claim that there is a severe shortage of corneas, with only one available for 70 patients.
- Logistical & storage difficulties and expensive surgical equipment are a further burden to people in low-middle income countries in Asia, Africa, Middle East.
- As a substitute for human corneas, the researchers utilized medical-grade collagen derived from pig skin, a byproduct of the food industry that is used in medical devices for glaucoma surgery.
- This is easy, low-cost than donated corneas, requires a less invasive procedure & can be stored for a longer period (2 years).
- Researchers developed a minimally invasive method without the use of stitches where a small incision is made in the patient’s eye, and the implant is inserted over the existing cornea.
- This can be done with high-precision lasers or by using readily available surgical instruments.
- This new method was used in India, Iran-where there is a lack of donated corneas.
- The procedure was safe and the researchers found that even after 2years, none of the patients were blind.
Result
The results show that it is possible to develop a biomaterial that meets all the criteria for being used as human implants, which can be mass-produced, stored for up to 2years, and thereby reach even more people with vision problems.
