Stem Cell Treatment To Cure the Most Common Cause of Blindness

The Times Online reports that researchers from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital have developed stem cell therapy that can treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness. They are currently moving the treatment through the regulatory approval process, and clinical trials are expected to start within two years. Quoting: "Under the new treatment, embryonic stem cells are transformed into replicas of the missing cells. They are then placed on an artificial membrane which is inserted in the back of the retina. ... [Professor Pete Coffey, director of the London Project to Cure Blindness] said the treatment would take 'less than an hour, so it really could be considered as an outpatient procedure. We are trying to get it out as a common therapy.'

Comments

This is good and all

[Anonymous Coward]

But don't let this discourage any mad scientist from creating ocular implants, especially ones with wifi and defensive laser beams.

Re:This is good and all

[defile39]

Perhaps they can be upgraded to transmit and safely receive x-rays.

Re:This is good and all

[soupforare]

The best defense is a good offense.

Re:This is good and all

[frieko]

Wait, how do you fit a shark into an eye socket?

Re:This is good and all

[genner]

Wait, how do you fit a shark into an eye socket?

Very carefully.

Re:This is good and all

[Neuticle]

Wait, how do you fit a shark into an eye socket?

Very carefully.

I've found it helpful to practice with a camel and a needle-eye before attempting sharks and real eyes.

A treatment to get rid of AMD?

[name*censored*]

"On hearing the announcement that researchers have found a cure for AMD, a spokesman for computing giant Intel said 'It's about bloody time.'".
 
/ducks

Masturbation?

[Anonymous Coward]

Finally! Now, can someone do something about the hair on my palms?

The Most Common Cause of Blindness

[Idiomatick]

Someone tag this !porn because I was seriously confused for a minute.

Re:Straight to stem-cell cures?

[cagrin]

Actually "synthetic" bodies which i suppose you could call robots have been around for quite some time...though it is hidden from the general public. Science fiction writers are often writing about technology existing in THEIR time(such as time travel and "star gates") but is not in the public eye. Start with the Omega and Majestic projects if you wish to research ;)

Re:Still a long way to go...

[Dachannien]

Why are you abbreviating and then writing out the abbreviation? Doesn't that kind of negate the point of an abbreviation?

Most people on the Tubes would have saved themselves a lot of time by just writing the commonly-used abbreviation, "WAYAATWOTA? DTKONTPOAA?"

Re:Still a long way to go...

[Anonymous Coward]

IANAO IAAO (I am not an Opthomologist, I am an Orthopaedist)

EIEIO (I am a farmer)

Re:Vampirism

[neonmonk]

Hi Medical Professional here, you may recognise me from such medical products as "Your First Colonoscopy" and the award winning "Bilateral Orchiectomy."

Re:Vampirism

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not a medical professional. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

And the first thing you'll see...

[TomHandy]

When your vision is restored is the baby jesus crying.

Obligatory

[Godji]

...stem cell therapy that can treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD)...

A spokesman for Intel expressed great interest in the technology:

"AMD has been a problem we've tried to combat for years, but until now, no matter how much we tried to suppress it, it always managed to survive. Not anymore."

NVIDIA declined to comment on this news story.

Re:Still a long way to go...

[Yvanhoe]

Plus, I could enjoy religious nutjobs shouting "You put baby foetus in your eyes !" at me...