Advances and clinical application of lens regeneration in mammal

Regeneration of the lens is an ideal strategy for cataract patients to restore their adjustable vision and to acquire excellent visual quality. However, mammalian lens regeneration is slow and incomplete, and functional lens regeneration cannot be achieved. The ability of lower amphibians (such as newts) to regenerate the lens provides the impetus for research on the regeneration of the lens of mammal. At present, the main form of mammalian lens regeneration is the differentiation of lens epithelial cells by capsular bag as a scaffold. In recent years, the continuous development of stem cell technology, tissue engineering and biological materials have made great progress in lens regeneration. This article describes the processes in the normal development of the lens, and reviews the research results of lens regeneration at home and abroad, and discusses the possibility of the new techniques and methods related to regenerative medicine applied to lens regeneration. It is hoped to help in the realization of rapid and complete regeneration of functional lens.(Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 549-553) Key words: Lens, crystalline; Regeneration; Stem cells; Mammals