Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia say they've successfully grown and implanted cornea cells to cure blindness.

They've reported growing corneal cells on a layer of hydrogel film that can be implanted in the eye to help the cornea heal itself. They've also successfully restored vision in animal trials and are aiming for human trials in 2017.

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The breakthrough hydrogel film developed by the Australian researchers might also help solve a global cornea shortage.

"We believe that our new treatment performs better than a donated cornea, and we hope to eventually use the patient's own cells, reducing the risk of rejection," says Berkay Ozcelik who developed the film working at the University of Melbourne.

"Further trials are required but we hope to see the treatment trialed in patients next year," he said.

This new and innovative cornea treatment that could make corneal transplants fail-proof stands to reduce the need for traditional donor tissue transplants.

It will also facilitate the growth of the patients' own corneal cells and eliminate the risk of transplant failure. The treatment might benefit the 10 million corneal disease sufferers worldwide.

More than 2,000 corneal transplants are conducted in Australia annually using corneal cells obtained from deceased donors. The main problem with traditional corneal transplants, however, is cell rejection.

It's estimated one third of corneal transplants are unsuccessful because of the body rejecting foreign donor tissue. A rejection is practically impossible if a person's cells were used.

The cornea is the transparent layer at the front of the eye. The cornea must remain thin to remain healthy and transparent. A layer of specialized cells called corneal endothelial cells on its inner surface maintain the cornea's moistness by removing water from it.

Disease, ageing and trauma can cause corneas to become swollen and cloudy, causing vision impairment and blindness.

TagsUniversity of Melbourne, cornea cells, blindness, hydrogel film, cornea, corneal transplants