(Not Embryonic)Stem-cell Contact Lenses Cure Blindness in one Month

Gizmodo ^ | 06/03/09 | Adam Frucci

[Dutchgirl]

Here's something that people with poor or no vision will be excited about: three patients had their sight restored in less than a month by contact lenses cultured with stem cells.

All three patients were blind in one eye. The researchers extracted stem cells from their working eyes, cultured them in contact lenses for 10 days, and gave them to the patients. Within 10 to 14 days of use, the stem cells began recolonizing and repairing the cornea.

Of the three patients, two were legally blind but can now read the big letters on an eye chart, while the third, who could previously read the top few rows of the chart, is now able to pass the vision test for a driver's license. The research team isn't getting over excited, still remaining unsure as to whether the correction will remain stable, but the fact that the three test patients have been enjoying restored sight for the last 18 months is definitely encouraging. The simplicity and low cost of the technique also means that it could be carried out in poorer countries.

This is incredible and potentially game changing. It's stuff like this that makes you realize that we live in the future, and it's awesome. [UNSW via The Australian via GizMag]

[AustinBill]

Engaging the debate as "embryonic" vs. "adult" misses the whole point. Someone who has no respect for moral values is delighted to see the opposition painted into the corner of making "primitive" moral arguments vs. their "enlightened" scientific views. You just can't win that argument. As a wise theology professor of mine once observed, you cannot reason a man out of a position he has not reasoned himself into.

Turn the tables and recast the debate as "Helping your body heal itself" (the natural way) vs. "Injecting foreign tissues into your body" (the artificial way) and see how things change. Support for autologous stem cells means rejecting embryonic research in a way that plays to the organic "all natural" mindset.

Sometimes a bit of forensic ju-jitsu is called for in the public square.

[so_real]

Interesting. You may well be on to something there. Redefining the argument from “baby cells vs. adult cells” to “my cells vs. foreign cells” will draw even those ignoring their moral compasses into the correct side of the debate. The more self-serving and ego-centric they are, the more vocal an ally they become. For all the wrong reasons, they join the side of right. And “all natural” is a hot ticket right now. You’ve convinced me to try something new. It is a sound logical argument, and may well be a convincing one as well. Thank you.