Iranian Researchers Develop New Corneal Repair Method
WANA (Oct 27) – A team of researchers from the University of Tehran, in collaboration with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University of Karaj, has introduced a groundbreaking technique for repairing severe corneal wounds, offering new hope for preventing blindness.
The new approach utilizes limbal stem cells combined with bovine amniotic membrane, forming a bio-based treatment that could significantly improve corneal healing and reduce vision loss.
In this study, the researchers examined the combined effects of limbal tissue, bovine amniotic membrane, and a conjunctival flap on corneal wounds caused by alkaline burns. Conducted on 25 rabbits, the animals were divided into five treatment groups.
The results showed that the group treated with the bovine amniotic membrane and limbal tissue achieved the best outcomes in terms of epithelial regeneration, reduced inflammation, and enhanced vascularization.
According to Dr. Mirsepehr Pedram, head of the research team and a faculty member at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the cornea — as the eye’s outermost transparent layer — plays a vital role in vision, and damage to it can rapidly lead to blindness. “Traditional treatments for corneal wounds are often invasive or expensive,” he explained. “Our method, based on natural biological materials, offers a simpler and more cost-effective solution.”
In the procedure, small fragments of limbal tissue containing regenerative stem cells are placed directly on the wound, then covered with bovine amniotic membrane or a conjunctival flap to protect the area and serve as a scaffold for new cell growth. This technique does not require advanced laboratory equipment or cell culture facilities, making it applicable in clinical and veterinary settings.
Dr. Pedram noted that while the initial results are promising, further human-scale studies are necessary before the method can be approved for clinical use in treating human corneal injuries. Nevertheless, the findings mark a significant step toward accessible and low-cost biological therapies for severe eye wounds.
This research highlights the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration among medical, veterinary, and biotechnology sciences and could pave the way for innovative treatments aimed at preserving sight and combating corneal blindness.
Iranian Researchers Develop New Corneal Repair Method. Social media/ WANA News Agency
