Researchers in Israel have called their new finding an exciting step towards the future use of cell replacement therapies to treat devastating degenerative eye diseases that cause millions of people worldwide to lose their sight.
The scientists with the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem were able to transplant animal retinas with cells derived from human embryonic stem cells.
“Although there are a variety of therapeutic approaches under development to delay the degenerative process, the grim reality is that many patients eventually lose their sight. Cell therapy to replenish the degenerating retinal cells may potentially halt disease progression,” said the studys lead author Dr. Benjamin Reubinoff.
According to WebMD, there are several believed to help vision. A 2001 study released by the National Eye Institute suggested that high doses of antioxidants vitamin C , vitamin E and beta-carotene, along with zinc, reduced the risk of vision loss from advanced age-related macular degeneration in some cases.
In addition, containing the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 have been shown to help restore and maintain tear formation and eye lubrication. 