Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise for Advanced Wet AMD

Wednesday, May 21 2025 | 10 h 22 min | Vision Science

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, (AMD), the more severe form of AMD, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the macula.

Currently, most cases of wet AMD are treated with drugs to slow blood vessel growth. However, these drugs may stop being effective and are not effective if vision loss is advanced. A new study by researchers in China, published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, explores an alternative: removing abnormal blood vessels and transplanting stem cell-derived retinal cells to try and repair the damage.

In a study with 10 patients, those who had complete removal of the blood vessels showed improved retinal structure, and their vision remained stable or improved over a year with few side effects. This suggests that the transplanted cells survived and started to repair some of the damage in the retina. However, patients with only partial removal experienced ongoing bleeding, inflammation, and no vision improvement.

This is an interesting study, however more studies with larger groups will be needed to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness and safety.

About Fighting Blindness Canada

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is the largest charitable funder of vision research in Canada.

Over our 49-year history, FBC has contributed critical funding for the development of sight-saving treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases. By raising and stewarding funds, FBC is helping drive forward research that supports our goal of understanding why vision loss occurs, how it can be slowed and how sight can be restored.

We are an invaluable resource for individuals and families impacted by blindness, providing accurate eye health information through our website and educational events, as well as engaging with government and other stakeholders to advance better vision health policies.

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