What is so fascinating about science? It’s always progressing
towards something new and what is considered top notch today will be outdated
in a few years. However, a discovery in human anatomy is something we weren’t
expecting to take place but it did! As it happens, the latest discovery about
human anatomy is only 15 microns thick, but contrary to its thickness, this
discovery is bound to have a huge impact on medical science. For starters, this
discovery will result in making eye surgery much simpler and safer as compared
to the present risks associated with eye surgery. The discoverer of this new
found layer is Professor Harminder Dua at the University of Nottingham.
He found a new layer present in the human cornea and has
named it after him; Dua’s layer. This particular layer lies at the back of the
cornea, the same cornea which was believed to have only five layers previously.
The methodology in finding out this layer included Dua injecting air into the
cornea and making use of an electron microscope to completely analyze each
layer by scanning it. The eyes used for this research were, of course, the ones
that had been donated for such research purposes. How many of you have heard
about corneal hydrops? It is this disorder which allows for the building up of
fluid in the cornea. The research team believes that a tear in Dua’s layer is
the cause for this disorder.
The team also believes
that the finding of this new layer will drastically improve the surgery
outcomes related to corneal grafts and transplants. Professor Dua had the
following to say regarding the new discovery; ‘This is a major discovery that
will mean that ophthalmology textbooks will literally need to be re-written.
From a clinical perspective, there are many diseases that affect the back of
the cornea which clinicians across the world are already beginning to relate to
the presence, absence or tear in this layer.’
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