Researchers at Waterloo Engineering have discovered how tiny bumps inside the eye contribute to a leading cause of blindness, a finding that could eventually reduce the need for corneal transplants.
Scientists have long known that bumps develop in the corneas — the clear, dome-shaped outer layer at the front of the eye — of people with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.
But until now, the bumps were largely thought to be only a sign of the disease, not a cause of further damage.
Using a laboratory model to recreate bumps found in diseased corneas, the researchers discovered that the bumps themselves can contribute to cell death by placing physical stress on them.
“When the cornea becomes cloudy, the condition is in an advanced stage,” said Lexie Xi, a PhD candidate in chemical engineering who led the study. “We aim to understand the disease mechanism to develop better alternative treatments.”
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