Research opens up new ways to treat blindness
28 Mar 2014
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In a development that holds promise for people at the risk of retinal blindness, scientists have discovered that identifying ways to leverage our immune system to clean out abnormal blood vessels in the retina could lead to treatments that could prevent or delay blindness or even restore sight, IANS reported.
Scientists have discovered that in addition to fighting external pathogens, helped remove sight-robbing abnormal blood vessels while leaving healthy cells and tissue intact.
This discovery is significant as the eye formed part of the central nervous system and its cells could not be replaced once lost.
IANS quoted Kip M Connor, a researcher from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts eye and ear infirmary angiogenesis laboratory in Boston, Massachusetts as saying the findings identified a new role of the innate immune system by which endogenous mediators selectively targeted the pathologic retinal vasculature for removal.
He added the insight would help develop therapies that result in a greater visual outcome and quality of life for patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy or retinopathy of prematurity.
Scientists have discovered that in addition to fighting external pathogens, helped remove sight-robbing abnormal blood vessels while leaving healthy cells and tissue intact.
This discovery is significant as the eye formed part of the central nervous system and its cells could not be replaced once lost.
IANS quoted Kip M Connor, a researcher from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts eye and ear infirmary angiogenesis laboratory in Boston, Massachusetts as saying the findings identified a new role of the innate immune system by which endogenous mediators selectively targeted the pathologic retinal vasculature for removal.
He added the insight would help develop therapies that result in a greater visual outcome and quality of life for patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy or retinopathy of prematurity.
