Researchers from The University of Nottingham have found a new layer in the front layer of the eye. The findings have been published in the journal Opthalmology and could help doctors in carrying out corneal transplants or grafts. The layer has been named Dua’s Layer after the researcher who led the study, Professor Harminder Dua.



The professor said that the discovery means that textbooks on ophthalmology will have to literally be rewritten. He added, “Having identified this new and distinct layer deep in the tissue of the cornea, we can now exploit its presence to make operations much safer and simpler for patients.”



The cornea is located on the front of the eye that allows light to enter. Until the discovery, it was known that the cornea consisted five layers, Boyman’s layer, corneal epithelium, corneal stroma, descemet’s membrane and corneal endothelium.



Dua’s layer is located on the rear of the cornea between the Descemet’s membrane and corneal stroma. This layer is extremely strong, tough and impervious to air despite the fact that it is only about 15 microns thick.



Dua’s layer was discovered by simulating the human corneal transplants on the eyes that was collected from donors across the UK.



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