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 It’s always progressing towards something new and what is considered top notch today will be outdated in a few years.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.’ Check out the videos below!
