LaserVision

Innovation & Research: Restoring Vision in the Blind

Innovation & Research: Restoring Vision in the Blind

In the last decade, innovations in the restoration of sight in people who were previously blind are becoming more and more common showing the sheer progression of this life changing research. Another study just completed in California has reported unprecedented success in restoring broken links between retinal ganglion cells and various parts of the brain, in mice; another huge step forward in the field.

As reported on Medical News Today, the achievements in this study is a significant step forward in finding ways to restore or improve sight in people with glaucoma and eye injuries that affect the optic nerve. The researchers describe how they coaxed optic-nerve cables that carry vision information from the eye to the brain, to regenerate. They found the cables not only repaired themselves, but also re-traced the same routes they had before being severed.

With around 70 million people worldwide with glaucoma and no vision-restoring treatment yet available, this new development provides great hope for vision recovery in patients with Glaucoma and optic nerve damage in the future. Read more about this study.

Sight is now being restored for many people across the world and its only a matter of time before many more eye conditions are successfully treatable. Just in case you haven’t seen them, we wanted to share a couple of our favourite stories of people regaining their sight:

Rhian Lewis, pictured above, was fitted with a ‘bionic eye’ or retinal implant as part of an ongoing trial at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and has spoken of her joy after she was able to tell the time for the first time in more than five years. Rhian has suffered from retinitis pigmentosa – an inherited disorder – since she was five and as a result is completely blind in her right eye and has virtually no vision in her left. The condition causes gradual deterioration of the light-detecting cells (photoreceptors) in the retina, which can lead to blindness.

Once fitted with the implant, Rhian realised she could tell that the time was three o’clock, and said “Oh my God! That felt like Christmas Day.” Describing the moment the device was turned on, Ms Lewis said: “They said I might not get any sensation and then all of a sudden within seconds there was this flashing in my eye, which has seen nothing for over 16 years, so it was like, oh wow!”

Another one of our favourite sight restoring stories is when four-month old Leo, who was born with oculocutaneous albinism which effects his hair, skin and eyesight gets to see his mother properly for the first time with a special pair of glasses. Watch the video below:

For more heart warming stories and videos of people seeing for the first time, click here.

 

Source: independent.co.uk

fred chow
fred chow
2023-11-24
Mr Tappin, top consultant and trusted surgeon for your cataract!
Jason Green
Jason Green
2023-09-06
Professional competent advice and absolutely no pressure to make a decision. I could not have predicted how much this procedure has changed my life in such a positive way. Thank you team.
Lelita Baldock
Lelita Baldock
2023-07-25
Dr Tappin and the team at LaserVision were amazing. I underwent Lasik corrective surgery and the process could not have been smoother. I was guided through the process with care and professionalism throughout. My results have been outstanding. I could not have asked for more from the team at LaserVision and I am truly grateful for my new vision.
Robert & Gia Anderson
Robert & Gia Anderson
2023-06-08
Utterly professional and caring from start to finish. I was quite nervous about having laser but am so pleased with the results. There has always been someone to advise and support every step of the way and patient care and well being really is the priority here. Thank you for looking after me and my eyes so well.
NewestToad
NewestToad
2023-04-24
Really excellent level of care from Mr. Rakesh - great communication, excellent standard of care, no complaints whatsoever, top notch service!
Christina Cook
Christina Cook
2023-04-17
Mr Tappin and his team are very professional and efficient. The whole experience from beginning to end was done with ease. I highly recommend.
Amanda Thorsen
Amanda Thorsen
2023-03-10
Dr Jayaswal has been amazing and changed my life. He made me feel so comfortable and relaxed in his care at the first meet, to remembering me with a personalised greeting, calmly explaining the procedure and reassuring me all the way through the surgery. I couldn’t recommend him enough for Lasik eye surgery - I now have perfect vision, a real dream come true! Thank you so much!
Nikki Blake
Nikki Blake
2023-02-02
Fantastic process from beginning to end - professional yet incredibly personable. The professional team, especially Mr Tappin, made me feel at ease throughout and the surgery was a great success.
April Dansie
April Dansie
2022-12-22
I had lens replacement surgery. After being both short sighted and long sighted for decades I can now see near and far without glasses or contact lens. It really is amazing. The care was great and so far the recovery has been easy.
George Judge
George Judge
2022-11-03
Amazing service from start to finish, I had LASIK surgery in August this year after years of consideration I finally took the plunge and went for the surgery with Mr Tappin. Mr Mike Tappin and his team were brilliant from the consultation right through to the surgery and aftercare. Mr Tappin and his team were very reassuring throughout the surgery and put me at ease every step of the way. If you are thinking about having laser eye treatment or at the start of your journey with it, I would highly recommend seeing Mr Tappin and his team!
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