Irish scientists are at the forefront of a new approach, which could save the sight of millions of people with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye disease, which is usually associated with long-term diabetes. High blood sugar can cause the blood vessels in the eye to leak or become blocked. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness.

However, scientists at Queen's University Belfast and NUI Galway are currently working on the REDDSTAR study (Repair of Diabetic Damage by Stromal Cell Administration), which involves the use of adult stem cells.

These cells will be isolated from donors, expanded in the laboratory and then delivered to sites in the patients that have been damaged by diabetes. It is hoped that they will help repair these damaged blood vessels.

The study, which also involves scientists from others parts of Europe and the US, comes at a time when there are very few treatments around which can control the complications of diabetes.

"Currently, available treatments for diabetic retinopathy are not always satisfactory. They focus on end stages of the disease, carry many side-effects and fail to address the root causes of the condition.

"A novel, alternative therapeutic approach is to harness adult stem cells to promote regeneration of the damaged retinal blood vessels and thereby prevent and/or reverse retinopathy," explained lead scientist, Prof Alan Stitt, of Queens' Centre for Vision and Vascular Science.

He believes that some patients will gain ‘enormous benefit' from this treatment.

"This is the first step towards an exciting new therapy in an area where it is desperately needed," he added.

The research is being funded by the EU.

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