Phil Durst experienced excruciating pain when a chemical from a commercial dishwashing machine squirted into his eyes during a work accident in 2017. The accident left his left eye blind, with severe sensitivity to light and daily cluster headaches. However, he underwent an experimental procedure that utilized stem cells from his healthy eye to treat the injured eye.
This innovative technique, part of the first U.S. study on the topic, offers hope to individuals with severe eye injuries who have limited treatment options. The procedure involves taking a small biopsy of stem cells from the healthy eye and growing them on a graft in a lab. These expanded stem cells are then transplanted into the injured eye, allowing for the restoration of the cornea’s surface. The use of the patient’s own tissue eliminates the risk of rejection that comes with donor tissue.
The results of the early-stage research were published in the journal Science Advances, and a larger study is currently underway. The procedure targets a corneal disorder called limbal stem cell deficiency, which can occur after chemical burns and other eye injuries. Patients with this condition are unable to undergo traditional corneal transplants to improve their vision, as they lack the essential limbal cells for corneal maintenance.
Dr. Ula Jurkunas, an ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston who led the study, expressed immense happiness and excitement at the success of the procedure. In the study, all patients had their cornea surfaces restored, and some were able to receive artificial cornea transplants. The technique provides a much-needed solution for individuals with limbal stem cell deficiency, offering the potential to help approximately 1,000 people in the United States each year.
The next phase of the clinical trial, which includes 15 patients, is currently being finalized. The use of stem cells from one eye to heal injuries in the other has also been studied in Japan. This groundbreaking procedure fills an unmet clinical need and provides hope for individuals with severe eye injuries.
Unique Perspective: The utilization of stem cells from one eye to heal injuries in the other is a groundbreaking development in the field of ophthalmology. Not only does it offer hope to those with severe eye injuries, but it also demonstrates the potential of utilizing a patient’s own cells for regenerative medicine. This personalized approach eliminates the risk of rejection and opens up new possibilities for treating various conditions in the future.
