A research team co-led by May Griffith (photo), PhD, a scientist at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, which is affiliated with Université de Montréal and is part of the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, has reported results suggesting that a novel liquid hydrogel may be used to effectively treat corneal perforations and offers an alternative to corneal transplant. The results of this multinational project were published on June 17, 2020 in Science Advances. The open-access article is titled “LiQD Cornea: Pro-Regeneration Collagen Mimetics As Patches and Alternatives to Corneal Transplantation.” "Our work has led to an effective and accessible solution called LiQD Cornea to treat corneal perforations without the need for transplantation," said Dr. Griffith, who is also a full professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Université de Montréal. "This is good news for the many patients who are unable to undergo this operation due to a severe worldwide shortage of donor corneas," she said. "Until now, patients on the waiting list have had their perforated corneas sealed with a medical-grade super glue, but this is only a short-term solution because it is often poorly tolerated in the eye, making transplantation necessary." A synthetic, biocompatible, and adhesive liquid hydrogel, LiQD Cornea, is applied as a liquid, but quickly adheres and gels within the corneal tissue. The LiQD Cornea promotes tissue regeneration, thus treating corneal perforations without the need for transplantation. Dr. Griffith praised the work of her trainees, Christopher McTiernan and Fiona Simpson, and her collaborators from around the world who have helped create a potentially revolutionary treatment to help people with vision loss avoid going blind.Login Or Register To Read Full Story