Scientists have established a system to measure the effectiveness of treatment for cornea disease in people with aniridia – caused by Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)
This objective, standardised method allows the effect of a treatment on patients to be documented. The lead investigator Dr Alex Shortt gave an example of stem cells transplanted from a deceased donor and grown in a lab: “There was a decrease in LSCD severity and an increase in visual acuity up to 12 months post-treatment, but thereafter LSCD severity and visual acuity progressively deteriorated. However, despite a recurrence of clinical signs, the visual benefit persisted in 30 percent of aniridic at 36 months.”
This evidence can then be used to compare treatments properly for the first time, to find which work best.
The system was developed at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London where Cells For Sight are also researching Limbal stem cells.
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