Does the cornea in the eye grow like regular tissue?

Question

I am thinking about lasik but I just changed my prescription last year.

Answer 1

Unfortunately no.  That's why scientists are working hard to 'grow corneas' in the laboratory by using adult stems cells obtained from the surrounding tissues of the cornea called limbus.

The stem cells are produced by the limbus, an area surrounding the cornea, These are the “maternal” cells that “give birth” to new corneal surface when they are necessary to replace those lost due to normal “wear and tear” or injury. Because adult stem cells do not multiply and therefore cannot be replaced, destruction of its stem cells compromises the corneas’ healing ability. Therefore, the stems cells are normally obtained from an healthy eye.