Stating that stem cell transplantation can be performed in cases where the cells in the cornea layer on the front surface of the eye are reduced by chemical burns or trauma, Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. Dr. Anıl Kubaloğlu said, “When we transplant the tissue obtained from the patient's healthy eye, relative or cadaver into the diseased eye, we can reconstruct the anterior surface of the eye and enable the patient to see again. At the same time, since it is possible to reproduce cells with culture media, it will be possible to treat hundreds of patients with cells taken from a donor in the future.”
Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. from Etiler Dünya Eye Hospital. Dr. Anıl Kubaloğlu talked about the situations in which stem cell transplantation in the eye is necessary and the treatment methods.
It has been done for many years
Stating that stem cell transplantation in the eye is a practice that has been done for years, Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. Dr. Anıl Kubaloğlu said, “First of all, we have the cornea layer on the front surface of our eye. When we transplant this tissue into the diseased eye, we can reconstruct the anterior surface of the eye and enable the patient to see again. Another application is to use such eyes to prepare them for transplant surgery. So, first of all, we have a cell transplant that we have been using successfully for years on the anterior surface of the cornea. Recently, we have a second type of transplantation; In cases where our corneal tissue (the transparent tissue in front of the eye) loses the transparency of this tissue, the cells we call the endothelial cells of the eye decrease and patients cannot see. Cell transplantation is also in question in this Fuchs endothelial dystrophy disease, which is a disease that occurs in advanced ages. It has been done for the last 10-15 years and patients can have a chance to see again without a classical transplant.”
It can be reproduced in tissue culture medium in the cornea and transplanted again.
Stating that many advances have been made in transplants on the anterior and posterior surface of the cornea in recent years, Prof. Dr. Kubaloğlu said, “The most important of these is the possibility of taking less tissue from the cornea, multiplying it in culture medium and transplanting it again. It is especially important in bilateral eye diseases, so it is possible to transplant more cells with much less tissue. On the other hand, although it is not very common in practical life, it has been possible to reproduce endothelial cells in some way, and in this way, it will be possible to see patients again in the near future, perhaps with cell transplantation, without corneal transplantation surgery. Again in recent years, another cell transplant has been successfully performed in macular degeneration of the retina of the eye or night blindness. This is another area of use,” he said.
“Chemical injuries are at the forefront of these diseases”
Explaining the situations where cell transplantation is necessary, Prof. Dr. Kubaloglu added:
“The most important cause of corneal diseases, that is, the diseases that require cell transplantation, is chemical injuries. These are the death of cells on the front surface of the eye as a result of products such as acezap, bleach, which we use for cleaning at home, or acid or alkali burns after an accident in the industry. In these cases, the ability of the eye to renew itself, that is, to re-heal the wound, is lost and the front surface of the eye is covered with a white tissue. In such cases, a stem cell transplant is needed so that the patient can see again. This stem cell is at the junction of the white and transparent in the eye itself. If there are not enough cells at this junction, the patient's own wound will not heal, and the patient will not regain vision and light. In these cases, the patient can either benefit from the stem cell transplant and can no longer see, or when the vision is not sufficient, the patient can undergo classical corneal transplant surgery.”
“Today, many diseases in their 40s may require transplantation”
Stating that corneal transplantation is performed in a different way in the failure of endothelial cells that provide the transparency of the cornea, Prof. Dr. Kubaloğlu said, “We transplant the cells from the normal donor cornea into the patient's eye. In the basic disease here, cells die for unknown reasons and are not replaced. For this reason, nearly 70 people worldwide undergo corneal transplant surgery every year. While we used to change the cornea in the operations we used to do, now it is possible to change only the layer containing the cells and enable patients to see again. This disease is Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, which results in corneal edema. It is an inherited disease. It usually appears in some families too much. Although the disease has clinical results in the 70s, many diseases in the 40s today may require transplantation.
“With new stem cell transplant applications, some retinal patients have a chance to see”
Stating that retinal diseases are the most common yellow spot disease in old age, Prof. Dr. Kubaloğlu said, “There is no real cure for this macular degeneration. They can usually receive vitamin supplements. With the recent new stem cell transplant applications, patients may have a chance to see in some retinal diseases. In another important group, it is the applications made in the treatment of the disease known as chicken black among the people, which we call night blindness.
“The recovery process after stem cell surgery can take 6 months to 1 year”
Expressing that the treatment is long-term, especially in injuries involving the front surface of the eye, Prof. Dr. Kubaloğlu said, “Preparing the patient for stem cell transplantation, performing the stem cell surgery, and the recovery period after the surgery can take 6 months to 1 year. A few more surgical interventions may be required in the future. Because when the anterior surface of the eyes of patients is completely damaged, their restoration can take a long time. In cell transplants performed in corneal edema, which is another application, the patient can return to his normal life 1 week after the operation. His vision can regain normal vision in 1 to 3 months. In cell transplants in retinal applications, this process works a little differently. Because it can take months for the stem cells to restructure there and for the patient to gain a certain vision.
“When tissues are grown in culture, it will be a cure-all”
Stating that it is possible to reproduce cells with culture media, Prof. Dr. Kubaloğlu concluded his words as follows:
“With some new technological developments and developments in science today, the most important source of these stem cell transplants is the tissues obtained from another patient's healthy eye or a close relative. However, since it is possible to reproduce cells with these culture media today, it will be possible to treat many people with very small tissues in the future, perhaps hundreds of patients with cells taken from a donor in an endothelial cell transplant. Or when you take a very small tissue source in people with two eyes injured, when you reproduce these tissues in culture medium, this will be a remedy for treatment. Again, some new tissues are being investigated in eyes without tissue source. We have multipotential cells in human skin tissue, mucous tissue in the lip or in our blood. Techniques to produce new cells from those cells are also being investigated, perhaps such applications will soon be used.”
Be the first to comment