A new cure for blindness in one eye, thanks to stem cells

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A new cure for blindness, thanks to stem cells By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent Health news is often pretty scary and depressing, especially over the past few years. So it’s always nice when we can highlight research with the power to truly improve people’s lives. A new study, published today in Science Advances, is in that category. It describes a new method of using a person’s own corneal stem cells to restore their vision after a catastrophic eye injury that couldn’t otherwise be treated. The paper details only four successful cases, but it’s a “stepping stone” toward a whole new world of cell therapies, the study’s principal investigator told me. Nick Kharufeh, one of the trial participants, lost sight in his left eye after a fireworks accident in 2020. Today, he can see well enough to navigate his apartment and cross the street using only his injured eye—a once-unfathomable, but very positive, development in what he described to me as the “emotional rollercoaster” of his last three years. READ MORE  Share This Story

What Else to Read Legal Challenges to Abortion Medication Could Set Off a Domino Effect for Access By Jamie Ducharme If mifepristone becomes harder to access, so too may all abortions. Read More » It's Illegal to Sell or Possess Cannabis in Japan—But It's Legal to Get High On It. Here's Why By Koh Ewe Here's everything to know about the current state of weed regulation in Japan—and where it could go next. Read More » Health Insurance Reform Has Surprisingly Little Impact on Actual Health By Liran Einav and Amy Finkelstein The key to improving health for Americans is far more complex than health insurance reform, write Liran Einav and Amy Finkelstein. Read More » Now's The Time to Bring Up Menopause At Work By Alana Semuels Companies are beginning to expand health benefits to cover menopause as Millennials start to enter perimenopause. Read More » Why You Really Need to Change Your Air Conditioner’s Filter By Jamie Ducharme When used right, air conditioning can improve indoor air quality. But if your system is dirty, it can make it worse. Read More »

One Last Read What happens when artificial intelligence becomes an ingredient in your daily meals? The Wall Street Journal set out to determine whether OpenAI's ChatGPT could develop meal plans to help people save time, lose weight, and even manage chronic conditions. Reporter Alex Janin discovered a host of limitations, from the serious (adding almond milk to a nut-free diet) to the seriously unappetizing (mixing chocolate Cheerios with tofu). Read More »

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