Eye Conditions and Diseases

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MACULAR DEGENERATION

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.  Stem cell therapy has been an area of active research for macular degeneration. Researchers have been exploring the potential of using stem cells to replace damaged or lost retinal cells in the macula, with the aim of restoring vision or slowing down the progression of the disease.  Numerous preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of various stem cell-based approaches.

While the exact causes of macular degeneration are not fully understood, there 7 factors that put you at risk for it:

Age:  The risk of developing macular degeneration increases with age.  it is most commonly seen in people over the age of 50 and prevalence increases significantly with each decade of life.

Genetic Factors:  Family history and genetics play a role in the development of macular degeneration.  Certain genetic variations are associated with an increased risk of developing the condition.

Smoking:  It is a significant modifiable risk factor for macular degeneration.  Smokers are at a higher risk of developing the condition compared to non-smokers.  Smoking can also worsen the progression of the disease.

Race and Ethnicity:  Macular degeneration is more common in Caucasians, particularly those of European descent, compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Cardiovascular Disease:  Conditions such a high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol are associated with an increase risk of macular degeneration.  Maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system is important for eye health.

Obesity:  Being overweight or obese in linked to an increased risk of macular degeneration.  A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet is beneficial for overall eye health.

Sun Exposure:  Prolonged and unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun may contribute to the development and progression of macular degeneration.  Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays and hats can help protect the eyes from harmful exposure.

It’s important to note that while these factors are associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration, having one or more of these risk factors does not necessarily mean a person will develop the condition.  Regular eye exams and adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk and detect macular degeneration at an early stage.

THERE IS HOPE FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION

According to the U.S. Government’s website at ClinicalTrials.gov, at this moment there are over 30 clinics listed around the world to investigate how stem cell therapy can help with macular degeneration.

A study using stem cells therapy for macular degeneration resulted in significant vision recovery:                                                                                                                                                Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the macula, which is the central part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, detailed vision. The disease can cause the macula to deteriorate, leading to vision loss and, in some cases, blindness.  Stem cell therapy involves using stem cells to regenerate damaged or diseased tissue, potentially offering a way to repair the damaged macula in people with macular degeneration. Several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapy for macular degeneration.

In a recent article ‘Stem Cell Therapy Could Restore Vision to Those With Macular Degeneration and Other Blinding Eye Diseases’ the author of one study Dr. Helder Andre, Head of Molecular and Cellular Research from Karolinska Institute’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience said:  “It is exciting to find these results, which suggest a promising route towards using stem cells to treat those forms of visual deterioration and blindness caused by the loss of photoreceptors.

OPTIC NERVE INJURIES

Stem cells can regenerate damaged nerves in various parts of the body including the Optic Nerve.  The Optic Nerve can incur injury due to trauma or disease such as Diabetes. 

Using an eye injection technique by our Ophthalmologist who is specially trained in this technique called the “retrobulbar injection”, stem cells are placed behind the eye, next to the optic nerve, as close as possible to the area of injury. Damage to the optic nerve typically causes permanent and potentially severe loss of vision, as well as an abnormal pupillary reflex, which is diagnostically important. The type of visual field loss will depend on which portions of the optic nerve were damaged.

The optic nerve is composed of retinal ganglion cell axons and support cells. It leaves the orbit (eye socket) via the optic canal, running postero-medially towards the optic chiasm, where there is a partial decussation (crossing) of fibres from the nasal visual fields of both eyes. The optic nerve is the second of twelve paired cranial nerves but is considered to be part of the central nervous system, as it is derived from an outpouching of the diencephalon during embryonic development. As a consequence, the fibers are covered with myelin produced by oligodendrocytes, rather than Schwann cells, which are found in the peripheral nervous system, and are encased within the meninges.

RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic disorders, rare (1 in 4,000 people worldwide), that involve the loss and breakdown of rod and cone cells in the retina. RP is an inherited disorder due to harmful mutations in any of more than 50 different genes. There are three different effects of these mutations. The first one, the mutation is so severe that the body cannot make the protein that gene codes for. The second one is where the mutation changes the code in the gene that results in a toxic protein. The final one means the mutation altered the code leading to an abnormal protein that doesn’t work. All three lead to damage of the photoreceptors. At the beginning stages of the disease, people suffer from night blindness and later a more progressive loss of peripheral vision. These symptoms begin during childhood, although the progression varies depending on the gene affected and the mutation involved in the cause most patients with RP will lose most of their sight.

Stem cell treatment can ameliorate the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease along with treatment with key dietary and other complementary adjunctive.  Cell-based therapies have demonstrated regeneration of the damaged cells and secretion of factors that help the retinal cells to survive.

We focus on utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with localized retrobulbar injection performed by a licensed Ophthalmologist as well as a mannitol supplemented stem cell IV for better results

  • RESEARCH REFERENCES
      1. Progress of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for neural and retinal diseases.

      World Journal of Stem Cells. 2014;6(2):111-119. doi:10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.111. Ng TK, Fortino VR, Pelaez D, Cheung HS.

      1. Stem cell treatment of degenerative eye disease

      Stem Cell Research, Volume 14, Issue 3, May 2015, Pages 243-257, ISSN 1873-5061, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2015.02.003. Ben Mead, Martin Berry, Ann Logan, Robert A.H. Scott, Wendy Leadbeater, Ben A. Scheven 

      1. Retinal pigment epithelial phenotype induced in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells

      Cytotherapy. 2009;11(2):177-88. doi: 10.1080/14653240802714819.

      Vossmerbaeumer U, Ohnesorge S, Kuehl S, Haapalahti M, Kluter H, Jonas JB, Thierse HJ, Bieback K.

       

      1. Research progress of stem cells on glaucomatous optic nerve injury

      Int J Ophthalmol. 2016 Aug 18;9(8):1226-9. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2016.08.21. eCollection 2016.

      Ya-Sha Zhou, Jian Xu,Jun Peng, Ping Li, Xiao-Juan Wen, Yue Liu, Ke-Zhu Chen,Jia-Qi Liu,Ying Wang, and Qing-Hua Peng 

      1. Augmenting peripheral nerve regeneration using stem cells: A review of current opinion

      World J Stem Cells. 2015 Jan 26;7(1):11-26. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i1.11.

      Neil G Fairbairn, Amanda M Meppelink, Joanna Ng-Glazier, Mark A Randolph, and Jonathan M Winograd

       

      1. Recent Advances of Stem Cell Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa

       Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Aug; 15(8): 14456–14474. Published online 2014 Aug 20. doi:  10.3390/ijms150814456

      Yuxi He,Yan Zhang, Xin Liu, Emma Ghazaryan, Ying Li, Jianan Xie, and Guanfang Su

      1. Progress of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for neural and retinal diseases

       World J Stem Cells. 2014 Apr 26; 6(2): 111–119.

      Published online 2014 Apr 26. doi:  10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.111

      Tsz Kin Ng, Veronica R Fortino, Daniel Pelaez, and Herman S Cheung

      1. Stem cell treatment of degenerative eye disease

      Stem Cell Research, Volume 14, Issue 3, May 2015, Pages 243-257, ISSN 1873-5061, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2015.02.003. 

      Ben Mead,Martin Berry,Ann Logan,Robert A.H. Scotta,Wendy Leadbeater,Ben A. Scheven.
"I've seen an overall improvement in my vision but the biggest improvement I've seen is in my night vision. I feel more confident driving at night again and have more freedom because of that..." ---E.M., GUATEMALA
E.MGUATEMALA
"I'm driving again after years. I feel like have a brand new life!" ---D.L., USA
D.LUSA
"I can finally see your beautiful face!"-translated from Spanish ---R.H.B., GUATEMALA
R.H.BGUATEMALA
"I actually see the silhouette of your hand!"-Patient's comment upon shaking the hand of the physician, 3 days post-stem cell treatment. ---S.D., AUSTRALIA
S.DAUSTRALIA
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