In recent times, pigs have been widely used as the most suitable animal to be an alternative organ for humans. We have previously reported that pig hearts were successfully transplanted into humans, damaged lungs were treated with the help of pigs and much more.
Recently, Nature Biotechnology has published a study by Linköping University (LiU) and LinkoCare Life Sciences AB in which they have succeeded in proving that pig skin can be used as a cornea replacement to restore the sight of blind people. This study has been successfully conducted on 20 patients who have problems with the cornea and those who have not been able to see for a long time can finally.
In this study, they found that pig skin has collagen molecules that can be used as an alternative to human corneas. The cornea contains a lot of protein collagen where this pig skin collagen goes through a purification process for it to be safe for use in human eyes.
The pig skin used is also leftover from the food industry. This collagen is used as an implant and patients no longer have to wait for a donation. This regenerated cornea can also last longer than a donated cornea, which is up to two years compared to two weeks.
Patients who receive this implant have to undergo treatment for two weeks and have to regularly drip medicine into the eye almost every time to ensure that the implant is accepted. Medicines also need to be taken every time for two years without stopping. These 20 patients have given effective results and the previously blind can now see. They also have no troubling side effects.
This study also states that it is one of the best methods to treat keratoconus corneal disease. With the results of this study, more hospitals will accept implant access and no major surgery will have to be done. Even just a small incision on the eye and put this pigskin cornea without any sutures, the surgery is done.