The All India Institute of Medical Sciences may soon start clinical trials for the use of artificial tissues for corneal transplantation. The phase I trial for the breakthrough procedure involving laboratory analysis has been completed and ethical clearance is awaited for starting the trials, said Dr. Jeevan S Titiyal, chairman of the National Eye Bank at the Institute. The cornea is the transparent tissue that covers the eye. More than 2.5 lakh people in India suffer from corneal blindness in both eyes and another 5 lakh suffer from corneal blindness in one eye.
Eye transplants, which can help restore vision is such cases, is done on only 30,000 to 35,000 people due to the unavailability of donor graft. Eye specialists say the artificial corneas can help reduce the gap between demand and supply. "Artificial corneas are bio-engineered using collagen derivatives. There is no chance of…
