Edinburgh pioneers stem cell corneal treatments

Doctors in Edinburgh and Glasgow have come together to perform groundbreaking surgery to treat corneal blindness using stem cells (where the cornea is unable to transmit light through to the retina making the patient unable to see).

The trial led by Prof Bal Dhillon of Edinburgh's Princes Alexandra Eye Pavilion uses the stem cells from dead adult donors rather than embryos and hopes to regenerate the damaged cornea.

The trial is currently being carried out on about 20 people.