Paris: Scientists have developed drops from a jelly found in the umbilical cord that could be a new treatment for eye pain. The jelly contains cells that are believed to have the ability to repair damage to the surface of the eye caused by injury or infection.
Clinical trials of the drops are underway at six hospitals in France to see if the drops can cure corneal inflammation.
This eye pain can be caused by an infection caused by wearing contact lenses for a long time. Although relatively few people suffer from this condition, it has the potential to erode the surface of the cornea and cause permanent vision loss within days.
This discomfort is usually treated by killing the bacteria with antibiotic drops. At some specialist centers the condition is treated with eye drops made from a sample of the patient’s blood.
The researchers behind the latest trial of the jelly drops are hopeful that the drops can be made easily and in large quantities, saving patients from having to give their blood samples.
This substance, called Wharton’s jelly, is found in large quantities in the umbilical cord, which is usually discarded after the baby is born.
In recent years, scientists have discovered that it is a rich source of stem cells.
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