A rock and a (regulatory) hard place.*

Watching the state of science over the past 4 years has been simultaneously hope inspiring and heart breaking. Two years ago, I reported that autologous stem cells were being used to cure human corneal blindness. Since then, hundreds of people in India and pockets around the world have benefited from the technique to use a patient's own adult stem cells to successfully cure corneal blindness without risk of rejection! But, this surgery is not available in the United States. It won't even be in clinical trial for a number of years.

Dr. Graziella Pellegrini (interviewed above) developed the stem cell transplantation technique as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.  
You can probably hear the gnashing of my teeth from wherever you are reading this.

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*This is a previously unpublished post from May 2012.  At that time, two ophthalmologists recommended that Bertrand undergo surgery to help with corneal scarring.  This surgery, tarsorrhaphy, is disfiguring.  The eyelids are partially sewn together to narrow the eye opening, thus reducing corneal exposure.

Dear Ryan was among the first google results for tarsorrhaphy.

I was heartbroken. The state of medical science left me in despair.  Bertrand deserved better and I knew it existed, but it was not yet approved in this country.

Due to corneal scarring, Bertrand has reduced corneal sensation and doesn't blink.  If his corneal sensation were restored, we are confident he would be able to blink and retain sufficient moisture on his own.

Unfortunately, a corneal transplant isn't a realistic option until after he reaches adulthood, as children have a ridiculously high rate of corneal transplant rejection.

Yes, we considered taking him to India for the autologous stem cell surgery.

But, short of that, we begged Bertrand's doctors to give us a shot at fighting the corneal erosion.


They did.  ...and it worked.

Today, August 19, 2013, at Bertrand's ophthalmology appointment, the scar on his left eye is no longer visible, and the scar in his right eye is significantly reduced.

Bertrand no longer has to see the doctor every 3 months--just every 6 months.

This miracle of sight is thanks to lotemax (steroid) ointment 3 times a week, systane ointment or refresh drops every 2 hours (minimum), humidifiers, and last, but not least, julbo sunglasses, which reduce ocular surface evaporation and look awesome at the same time.

It's long past time I should publish this, and celebrate.  :)