Would You Have a Cornea Transplant in my Position?

[jfuh]

LOL. Not quite. Generally stem cells come from developing fetal tissue as I understand it.

To use your DNA they would have to create an entire human clone of you, then remove it's eye.

No, that's highly un-neccesary. You take an embryonic stem cell, extract it's DNA and then fuse your DNA into it - thus using the embryonic machinery, but then using your DNA. Then you can manipulate it's genes with on or off to have it grow to any organ you want it to. No need to grow a being at all.

 

[jfuh]

Adult stem cells are found in our organs I believe.

I think the major difference is fetal stem cells can develop into any body part, adult stem cells are more limited *but not as limited as previously believed)

Theoretically, adult stem cells should be able to develop into any organ as well. Yet through many factors, too complicated to get into here in a forum such as this, they are unable to.

 

[jfuh]

Ahh, well, all I need is a Cornea, that's why I figured it would be cool to just make a cornea out of Adult stem cells, or would extracting stem cells kill someone or distroy the organ?

No, stem cell extractions do nothing of the sort, nor is it require the "destruction of a being" as is so popularly mis-informed in many novels or other populist media. You could as you propose make a cornea out of adult stem cells, but you'd have far better chances with the machinery of embryonic stem cells.

 

[ARealConservative]

No, that's highly un-neccesary. You take an embryonic stem cell, extract it's DNA and then fuse your DNA into it - thus using the embryonic machinery, but then using your DNA. Then you can manipulate it's genes with on or off to have it grow to any organ you want it to. No need to grow a being at all.

You will note that she was discussing a test tube baby - an exact clone of herself.

 

[ngdawg]

I'm a believer in availing oneself to any medical/scientific help that's out there in order to improve one's life.
You state that your vision would not be 20/20 if you got the transplant, but what is it now? Apparently it would be an improvement, restore your depth perception and field of vision.
Since the age of 8, I've had to wear glasses(think coke bottles). I have severe dry eye that makes it almost impossible to read more than three pages of a book at a time, coupled with unknown allergies that affect my eyes as well. As a graphic artist, this is a royal pain. It takes a couple of hours in the morning for my eyes to stop watering and blurring; like clockwork every day, they 'give out', burning, watering, blurring up. I can't wear contact lenses, but my glasses give me 20/15 vision when my eyes are clear enough to see.
If my doctor told me that cornea transplant would get rid of these maladies, I'd jump at it. But, ultimately, you have to do what makes you feel comfortable. Some deaf people could get cochlear implants, but won't; amputees don't always get prostheses. You've managed to compensate and deal with the cards you were handed. Quite frankly, your pros and cons are reflective of what you have decided; there's more than one pro and even if not, it's a biggy compared to the remote possibilities of the cons. Corneal transplants are 'common' and have been done for decades. You just need to get the thought that it's 'an eye from a dead person' out of your thoughts and into the proper 'perspective'. Good luck either way.

 

[Southern Belle]

My mom said glass eye is the worst case and that would only happen if EVERYTHING else went wrong. Actually she thinks I should still keep it in mind but wait til my doctor thinks it's a really good idea, and if my eye keeps being healthy, and I think I agree with that, and I WOULD have vision even if it was just like my other eye.

I just had to get over the complete creepiness of what would actually happen.

My vision in my good eye, corrected with magnified bifocals, is at the most 20/80, 20/100 with regular glasses or contact. (I of course only wear one contact lense)

I also forgot to mention that I have glaucoma which is WHY I'm blind, heh...

 

[jfuh]

My mom said glass eye is the worst case and that would only happen if EVERYTHING else went wrong. Actually she thinks I should still keep it in mind but wait til my doctor thinks it's a really good idea, and if my eye keeps being healthy, and I think I agree with that, and I WOULD have vision even if it was just like my other eye.

I just had to get over the complete creepiness of what would actually happen.

My vision in my good eye, corrected with magnified bifocals, is at the most 20/80, 20/100 with regular glasses or contact. (I of course only wear one contact lense)

I also forgot to mention that I have glaucoma which is WHY I'm blind, heh...

Damn, makes me value my vision so much more now. Best of luck to whatever you decide belle.

 

[jfuh]

You will note that she was discussing a test tube baby - an exact clone of herself.

I didn't see the reference to clone or test tube baby, only to stem cell lines.
In a matter of speaking though, stem cell grown organs are exact "clones". Just not of the entire body but of the organ itself - well without the ailments.

 

[Southern Belle]

I didn't see the reference to clone or test tube baby, only to stem cell lines.
In a matter of speaking though, stem cell grown organs are exact "clones". Just not of the entire body but of the organ itself - well without the ailments.

Oh yes, when I said test tube baby, I wasn't actually thinking clone, just a cloned organ, not a full person...^^

 

[jfuh]

Oh yes, when I said test tube baby, I wasn't actually thinking clone, just a cloned organ, not a full person...^^

No problem. Hope my explanations have clarified on what stem cells involve though.

 

[Southern Belle]

No problem. Hope my explanations have clarified on what stem cells involve though.

Yes, thank you. Even though I don't completely get it, I have a better idea about it.