Do Chemical Substances Affect Our Eyes?

Do Chemical Substances Affect Our Eyes? Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nesrin Tutaş Günaydın from the Ophthalmology Department at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital provided detailed information on the effects of chemical substances on the eye and stem cell transplantation to the cornea. The limbus is the name given to the outer edge of the cornea, which resembles a transparent watch glass at the front of the eye, and is the location where stem cells are situated. The stem cells located here are responsible for renewing the epithelial layer that forms the corneal surface and maintaining the transparency of the cornea. Stem cells can be damaged for various reasons and lose their function over time. When chemical substances frequently used in daily life come into contact with the eye, vision loss can occur. These chemical substances that come into contact with the eye damage the area where stem cells are located, which form the outer surface of the cornea that resembles a transparent watch glass in front of the eye. A healthy seeing eye can become unable to see as a result of this trauma. Due to the loss of stem cells or their failure to function properly, limbal stem cell deficiency occurs in the person. Thanks to advancing technology, today limbal stem cell transplantation, which can be applied to suitable patients, allows an eye that has become opaque and unable to see to regain the chance to see again.

Damaged eye can see again

The conventional treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency has been limbal epithelial stem cell transplantation, performed over the last 30 years. In this procedure, if the person's other eye is healthy, limbal stem cells are taken from that eye and transplanted to the damaged eye. However, the most important disadvantage of this method is that the procedure cannot be repeated due to the risk of potential stem cell deficiency that develops in the healthy eye. For this reason, cultured limbal stem cell transplantation began to be performed in 1997. In this new method, unlike the conventional method, a smaller tissue sample is taken from the eye. After the stem cells in this tissue are multiplied in laboratories that provide good manufacturing practice conditions, they are transplanted back into the patient's eye. The most important advantage of this method is that all stem cells in the healthy eye are not at risk and the procedure can be repeated if needed. Although the cost of this method is high due to the technical aspects and supplies of the laboratories' production procedures, the results of the surgery are quite satisfactory.

Human-derived tissues increase compatibility

Generally, animal-derived substances are used worldwide in stem cell production. In our country, the availability of laboratory technology equipped to produce human-derived tissue culture is an important indicator that Turkey is at the forefront of developments in healthcare. The fact that the produced culture is human-derived brings many advantages to the patient. The human-derived nature of the transferred tissue reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions developing in the patient, while also increasing the compatibility of the transplanted tissue.

Take protective measures

This treatment method improves the patient's quality of life. However, the priority should be to protect the eyes from chemical substances and cleaning agents. Both in the workplace and at home, such chemical substances should be applied away from the eye area, the eye should be protected using protective equipment, and these substances should be used in accordance with the instructions on their labels. If exposure to these chemical substances occurs, the eye should be washed thoroughly with water and medical attention should be sought immediately.