The process, coordinated by the Institute of Pharmacy (IOBA), University of Valladolid and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the academic institution, has been successful in 90 percent of patients who have been applied.

The technique involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s healthy eye or of a deceased, later to be grown in a processing unit cell and implanted in the affected organ, said at a news conference IOBA investigator Margarita Calonge .
By this treatment option, it saves the cornea transplant, “which are doomed to fail in the long term,” because the stem cells are still wearing new membrane as a result of Limbic Distress Syndrome.

However, if the transplant is necessary, guarantees of success are greater, according to Calonge.

With the use of this technique results in addition to economic savings in health costs arising from surgery, procedures for obtaining tissue for transplantation, medical or analytical.

This therapy has been used by these investigators so far in twelve patients, eight of whom was a success, three were assigned the stem cell transplant later this month, while in one of which failed due to a unexpected infection that destroyed the implant.
Tests have been conducted in patients from University Hospital and the Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, and a hospital in the Portuguese city of Oporto.

In addition to the regeneration of the cornea and repair of vision, through this procedure, which does not require hospitalization, you end up with the pain that I face daily the patients of this disease has affected the researcher.

The claim IOBA team is to ensure that in the future, stem cells from other body tissues are valid for this intervention, thus avoiding the complications of obtaining these cells from eyes of cadavers for patients with both eyes affected by syndrome.
Also, Calonge has been necessary to get that lowers the costs of this process so that the art is accessible to any patient or health system.

Limbic insufficiency syndrome occurs when the so-called epithelial stem cells of the cornea critically reduced or lose their functionality, a fact that occurs as a result of multiple pathologies and generates blindness and chronic pain.

What is it?

The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue which is located on the back of the eye. It acts as a processor: the images pass through the lens of the eye and focus on it, which turns them into electrical signals and, through the optic nerve, reach the brain. By function, any disruption is very detrimental. The lesions in the retina of the eye are one of the most serious complications in the development of diabetes: 25% of blindness in Spain are caused by diabetic retinopathy.

25% of blindness in Spain have their origin in diabetic retinopathy

Maintain high levels of blood glucose and high levels of blood pressure (which is common in people with diabetes) can damage small blood vessels of the retina, which weaken and impede proper blood flow. This may be of varying severity in both eyes. In some cases it comes time to extravasation of fluid in these capillaries, which worsens the situation and leads to vision loss.

Its development is directly related to the years of development of diabetes and patient age. There are stages in which precipitated its progression, such as puberty and pregnancy when it is most likely to get out of control blood sugar levels.

Diagnosis is made through a study of the eye, ophthalmoscopy, which examines changes in retinal blood vessels in the fundus and the optic disc, which is the beginning of the optic nerve. Although this scan is painless, it is somewhat uncomfortable as it is administered eye drops causes pupil dilation, fast and reversible. This causes, at times, and during a period of time, which depends on each person, it tarnishes the vision and bright lights bother. So driving is not recommended after the test. Once both pupils dilated, and with a light source that is in the instrument itself, it shines into the eye through the iris and all structures are displayed with the magnifying lens.
Recommendations for the diabetic patient

To reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy, is critical with complete surveillance of the factors that aggravate the injury of blood vessels in the retina. These include careful control of diabetes and blood glucose concentration, the levels of blood pressure and cholesterol, and avoid consuming alcohol and snuff. There is evidence that smoking prevents the retina reach the necessary amounts of oxygen.

All treatment guidelines agree that healthy diet, capable of maintaining a healthy weight, and the assiduous practice of physical exercise are important pillars in maintaining the health of the whole population, especially in diabetics, for whom these guidelines are part of the treatment of their disease. Experts insist undergo ophthalmologic examinations periodically (even if no symptoms), along with good visual hygiene.

Some recommendations for maintaining good eye health are corrected using glasses if necessary and appropriate sun protection, in addition to using protective filters when working with computer or eye protection to prevent burns or wounds, not self-medicate with eye drops, except under medical prescription or not to overstress visual read and work with optimal light conditions.

Demonstrated effectiveness of photocoagulation

Faced with diabetic retinopathy, the ophthalmologist may recommend laser photocoagulation, a procedure used to remove the spilled blood vessels in the eye and delay loss of vision, and a drug treatment that decreases. For this reason, it is key to conduct a thorough screening of patients likely to develop it. There are two studies that show that laser therapy: the Diabetic Retinopathy Study (DRS) and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, ETDRS (early treatment study of diabetic retinopathy).

The first, based on a sample of 1,758 patients indicate that reducing vision loss caused by this disease: it causes a severe visual loss in 15.9% of untreated eyes, compared to 6.4 % in the treated eyes. The benefit is lower in patients with low risk and higher among those with high risk. This latter type of control patients, 26% progressed to severe vision loss, compared with 11% treated with laser.

The ETDRS also established the benefit of laser photocoagulation surgery in eyes with macular edema, accumulation of fluid from the retina-significant. Other results of this study show that aspirin does not prevent the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy does not reduce the risk of visual loss, but does not increase the risk of vitreous hemorrhage, when blood is concentrated in the center of the eye (vitreous gel).

Visual Acuity
Visual acuity is a measure of visual health, must be assumed as a technique to determine the status of the quantity and quality of vision. One should understand that eye care is not completed in the making of visual acuity.

From 5 to 14 years

* The test should be safe lighting.

* The usual distance should be 6 meters if different distance must be compensated.

* Evaluate each eye separately starting with the right. The eye is not considered to be occluded.

* Test results are recorded in digital form of fractions, expressed in feet.

* Patients with visual acuity less than 20/20 in either eye should be referred to comprehensive review.

* The technique used is the same as above but using a primer for near vision at a distance of 33 to 40 cms.

From 15 to 40 years

For distance vision

* The test should be safe lighting.

* The usual distance should be 6 meters, in different case the distance must be compensated.

* Evaluate each eye separately starting with the right. The eye is not considered to be occluded.

* Test results are recorded in a number of fractions, expressed in feet.

From 15 to 40 years

* Patients with visual acuity less than 20/20 in either eye should be referred to comprehensive review.

* The technique used is the same as above but using a primer for near vision at a distance of 33 to 40 cms.

Ocular Motility
It assesses the functioning of the extraocular muscles as follows:

* Diagnostic positions of gaze using a light source or a real object in monocular and binocular near vision.

* Cover-test to 6 meters. to 40 cms. and 20 cms. using a light source and a real object or occluder.

Perimetry
Visual field is assessed as follows:

Monocularly, using a real indicator or light, the patient should set right in front a fixed point. The indicator is moved from the periphery to the center and the person reporting the time when the indicator appears or disappears. This test should be conducted at different levels Cartesian (horizontal, vertical and oblique).

Diagnostics
Optometrist should be referred to any person with results of evaluation of visual acuity less than or greater than 20/20. The treatment for the defects of refraction is to prescribe optical correction. This activity is performed by the optometrist.

When the person does not have an improvement in vision in both eyes with the conventional optical prescription is referred to the ophthalmologist and subsequently to functional rehabilitation unit.

If the results of evaluation of ocular motility is strabismus, refers to the optometrist. He diagnosed strabismus orthoptics and receive preoperative treatment by an optometrist and surgical treatment by an ophthalmologist.

A person diagnosed with cataract is referred to the ophthalmologist for surgical treatment or control of it as evolution.

Coverage
To achieve coverage goals, available resources should be used primarily in the population group where the alterations are more frequent.

Coverage for Year 2. 000 is 20% of the universe.

The activities of screening, diagnosis and treatment to correct refractive errors of cataracts and strabismus are:

* Eye health screening in school children under 12 years, public and charitable institutions and coordinate the access of people suspected of altering the relevant entities for definitive diagnosis and timely treatment.”

VISUAL HEALTH PROTOCOL

* Control of visual acuity once a year.
* Control of refractive services once a year.
* Control of optometry once a year for examination of ocular motility.
* Control of perimetry once a year for visual field examination.
* Person with a diagnosis of cataract refers to ophthalmology for treatment.
* Person with a diagnosis of strabismus orthoptics referred to ophthalmology for treatment or surgery.

Ametropia
When light enters the optical system and is located in one or several different points on the retina. In ametropia are four optical states:
1. Myopia: When the light coming from infinity is focused at a point before the retina.
2. Hyperopia: When light from infinity is focused on one point after the retina.

It is worth noting that the hyperopia facultative and this can be compensated by accommodation, therefore the person reported in good vision.

3. Astigmatism: When the light coming from infinity is located at two different points within the eye’s optical system.
4. Presbyopia: A condition where the visual optical system loses the ability to zoom in the light on the retina. It is a process given by the depletion of physiological eye starting about forty years old, and stabilized to sixty.

Limitation Visual
Defined as visual impairment visual system impairment which results in difficulties in the development of activities that require the use of vision.

In the context of visually impaired people are blind and low vision, whereas with low vision, those who after the best conventional optical or surgical correction in the better eye does not exceed the 20/60 visual acuity to perception of light and a visual field no greater than 10 degrees from the fixation point, but who uses or is potentially able to use vision for the execution of visual tasks. Blind is a person who does not see light through optical.

Cataract
It is a lens opacity caused by systemic and environmental problems, inherited or acquired, resulting in a decrease in visual acuity or visual field.

Strabismus
lmbalance muscle characterized by the deviation of the visual axes, without offset, causing problems of convergence or divergence of binocular vision.

Functional Rehabilitation
Functional rehabilitation means comprehensive and continuous process of limited duration and with clear objectives, consistent with the characteristics and conditions of the person with disabilities, designed to allow the person with impairment or disability maintain, optimize or restore a physical level, mental sensory, which allow you to perform adequately in a physical environment, social and family work.

Thus we can conclude that is to make the most of all abilities and remnants of the disabled person to get obtain a level of adaptability and functionality that supports their independence at psychosocial, occupational, economic, family and others.

Visual Stimulation
Set of processes to achieve the development of visual functions.

Visual Training
Set of processes to develop skills and abilities in the use of visual residue to allow better performance in daily skills of visual order.

Universe
The target population is the entire population. In all age groups are common defects of refraction, visual acuity, ocular motility and cataracts.