Japanese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in regenerative medicine by successfully performing a stem cell transplant that substantially improved the vision of three patients suffering from serious corneal damage caused by limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

This condition leads to severe visual impairment due to scar tissue accumulation.

Published in The Lancet, the study used corneal epithelial cell sheets (iCEPS) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which were applied to the damaged corneas of participants.

Two years after the procedure, patients exhibited no significant side effects, and their corneas showed increased transparency, indicating a notable enhancement in vision.

With four patients involved, the study paves the way for broader trials and potential new treatments for similar eye conditions globally.