1. < Brain & Nervous System

Optic Nerve

Posted by Bharathi @bharathi, Jul 9, 2016

Hi!! One of my friends had met with an accident 12 years ago and lost his right eye. Eye transplant was not an option then as his optic nerve is damaged. Posting this to check if there is any technology advancement and if there is a possibility to get his vision back. Thanks!

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 9, 2016

Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem is not something within my area of experience, but I know that at Mayo Connect there are probably some folks to offer encouragement and support as you seek help for your friend. Does your friend still have vision in his left eye? How is he dealing with this loss? Best wishes to you and your friend and as you find help and encouragement at Mayo Connect. Teresa

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4 replies
Bharathi | @bharathi | Jul 10, 2016
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem is not something within my area of experience, but I know that at Mayo Connect there are probably some folks to offer encouragement and support as you seek help for your friend. Does your friend still have vision in his left eye? How is he dealing with this loss? Best wishes to you and your friend and as you find help and encouragement at Mayo Connect. Teresa

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Thanks for your encouraging words. Yes, he does have vision in his left eye. He has artificial prosthesis done for the right eye.

REPLY
Ali Skahan | @aliskahan | Jul 10, 2016
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem is not something within my area of experience, but I know that at Mayo Connect there are probably some folks to offer encouragement and support as you seek help for your friend. Does your friend still have vision in his left eye? How is he dealing with this loss? Best wishes to you and your friend and as you find help and encouragement at Mayo Connect. Teresa

Jump to this post

Hi @bharathi, I'm sorry to hear about your friend's condition, I can't imagine how tough that must be. I did some digging online, and from what I was reading, it seems that optic nerve restoration is very complicated and therefore the process appears to still be in a research and experimental phase. I found two articles on research being done that I think are really informative and might be a good read: https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2014-09-22-eye-tranplantation.aspx
https://consumer.healthday.com/eye-care-information-13/eye-and-vision-problem-news-295/scientists-set-their-sights-on-first-whole-eye-transplant-692505.html
I also found a more recent article from January of this year that shows some more recent research being done on different methods for optic nerve restoration and transplants: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-01-drug-cocktail-vision-optic-nerve.html

I would definitely encourage your friend to stay optimistic and know that research and trials are actively being perused in order to one day find a treatment; I have no doubt modern medicine is significantly closer than it was 12 years ago! Does your friend struggle with things despite it being many years since his accident?

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 10, 2016
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem is not something within my area of experience, but I know that at Mayo Connect there are probably some folks to offer encouragement and support as you seek help for your friend. Does your friend still have vision in his left eye? How is he dealing with this loss? Best wishes to you and your friend and as you find help and encouragement at Mayo Connect. Teresa

Jump to this post

@bharathi As you can see from Ali Skahan's reply below there seems to be a lot of research/experimentation in this area. Hopefully, all of the research will some day produce a treatment for your friend and so many others. Best wishes, Teresa

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marylawver | @marylawver | Jul 10, 2016

Check for government clinical trials. . Try googling it. There is a new Facebook page on vision, started by a man in Florida who had his sight restored after 20 years, in a trial using stem cells. The Facebook page is Vision Quest Advocacy Network. There are also German trials using electric current to restore the optic nerve. Also follow the National Eye Institute on Facebook. They are a great source of information. Best wishes. I am hoping not to lose my optical nerves as they are thinning, in my case, I would not have anyone to help if I lost my sight. It is great that you are trying to help your friend.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 10, 2016
In reply to @marylawver "Check for government clinical trials. . Try googling it. There is a new Facebook page on..." + (show)
@marylawver

Check for government clinical trials. . Try googling it. There is a new Facebook page on vision, started by a man in Florida who had his sight restored after 20 years, in a trial using stem cells. The Facebook page is Vision Quest Advocacy Network. There are also German trials using electric current to restore the optic nerve. Also follow the National Eye Institute on Facebook. They are a great source of information. Best wishes. I am hoping not to lose my optical nerves as they are thinning, in my case, I would not have anyone to help if I lost my sight. It is great that you are trying to help your friend.

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Some great information, @marylawver. Thanks for your input and I hope that you are able to get help with your optic nerve issues! If I may ask, how does the thinning optic nerves affect you? Keep in touch and thanks again for offering help and encouragement. Teresa

REPLY
Bharathi | @bharathi | Jul 12, 2016
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @bharathi, Welcome to Mayo Connect! Your friend is so fortunate to have you! This problem is not something within my area of experience, but I know that at Mayo Connect there are probably some folks to offer encouragement and support as you seek help for your friend. Does your friend still have vision in his left eye? How is he dealing with this loss? Best wishes to you and your friend and as you find help and encouragement at Mayo Connect. Teresa

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing the details. I hope something works out in the near future. For now he is leading a normal life except that he cannot drive. He was strong willed and got back to action pretty soon. 🙂

REPLY
Bharathi | @bharathi | Jul 12, 2016
In reply to @marylawver "Check for government clinical trials. . Try googling it. There is a new Facebook page on..." + (show)
@marylawver

Check for government clinical trials. . Try googling it. There is a new Facebook page on vision, started by a man in Florida who had his sight restored after 20 years, in a trial using stem cells. The Facebook page is Vision Quest Advocacy Network. There are also German trials using electric current to restore the optic nerve. Also follow the National Eye Institute on Facebook. They are a great source of information. Best wishes. I am hoping not to lose my optical nerves as they are thinning, in my case, I would not have anyone to help if I lost my sight. It is great that you are trying to help your friend.

Jump to this post

Thank you @marylawver for taking time to share the information. I will look out to see if I can get some information. Also pray you stay healthy and all works out well for you.

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