In the latest issue of Nature, there is a report of lens regeneration after cataract operation. Till now this was thought to be impossible. But Chinese and US scientists joined hands to prove that it is indeed possible. The trick is simple enough: when you remove the lens, be careful not to remove stem cells. But in practice, it requires a totally different operating procedure. Scientists find that if they retain cells that express Pax6 and Bmi1 genes, lens does regenerate and visual function is restored.
They first did experiments on rabbits and macaques. And they demonstrated that the same procedure works in human infants with cataract.
Cataract is one of the leading causes of blindness. The finding that it is feasible to allow the lens to regenerate using endogenous cells may revolutionise cataract operations.
They first did experiments on rabbits and macaques. And they demonstrated that the same procedure works in human infants with cataract.
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