Vision loss is one of the health issues that most affects people’s quality of life. For many years, treatment options for eye diseases were limited: glasses, medication, laser, or surgery… However, in recent years, stem cell treatments, the most exciting area of medicine, are opening the doors to a brand new era in eye health. Now, not only preserving vision but also recovering lost vision is no longer a dream.
The Power of Stem Cells
Stem cells are like the “renewal treasure” of the human body. They can transform into different cell types when needed and repair damaged tissues. This feature creates new treatment opportunities even in a complex and delicate organ like the eye.
In Which Areas Are They Used?
1) Cornea: Regaining Transparency
In corneas that have lost their transparency due to chemical burns or severe trauma, a clear cornea can become possible again through limbal stem cell transplantation. Today, there are patients in various centers around the world who have regained their vision with this treatment.
2) Retina: Can It Cure Blindness?
In diseases leading to blindness such as age-related macular degeneration (yellow spot disease) and retinitis pigmentosa, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells produced from stem cells are being experimentally transplanted. In some early-phase studies, it has been reported that patients regained their reading abilities.
3) Optic Nerve: The Greatest Hope of the Future
Reversing optic nerve damage due to glaucoma or trauma was impossible until now. Retinal ganglion cells derived from stem cells and exosome-based treatments have the potential to revive visual transmission by repairing nerve fibers. Although still in the experimental stage, these developments are seen as the “holy grail” of ophthalmology.
Results of Clinical Research
- Ongoing phase 1-2 studies in the USA and Europe have ensured safety and obtained promising results.
- In early-stage AMD patients, significant improvement in visual acuity was observed after stem cell transplantation.
- In some cases, patients were able to see letters and objects they hadn’t seen for years.
Why Is It So Promising?
- Potential for permanent solution: The possibility of providing benefits that can last for years with a single treatment.
- Restorative approach: While existing treatments slow the disease or control symptoms, stem cell treatment directly aims to repair the damage.
- Future combinations: When stem cells are combined with gene therapies and bioengineering implants, they can produce much more powerful results.
Challenges and the Future
The safety of cells, long-term efficacy, and cost are still issues to be overcome. However, the scientific world continues to overcome these obstacles one by one. In the next 5-10 years, stem cell treatments are expected to enter routine clinical practice, especially in the cornea and retina.
Conclusion
Stem cell treatments may not just be an option for eye diseases but the future of vision. For millions of people experiencing vision loss today, tomorrow’s medicine with stem cells could mean “seeing again.”