Scientists Use Photosynthesis to Combat Dry Eye Disease
Researchers have developed a novel approach to treating dry eye disease by bioengineering photosynthesis in mammalian eye cells. The study, published in Cell, involved using nanoscale light-harvesting particles from spinach to generate anti-inflammatory chemicals in eye models. This innovative method aims to utilize light to produce NADPH, a molecule that helps manage oxidative stress, a key factor in dry eye disease. The research team, led by Associate Professor David Leong, believes this technology, delivered via eye drops, could offer a new, non-invasive treatment for the condition, which affects approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. 
