Researchers at the USC Roski Eye Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, are launching a phase 2b clinical trial examining if stem cells bioengineered to replace failing cells in the retina damaged by macular degeneration could restore eyesight.
degeneration?
Clinical trial explores if stem cell-derived patch can help replace cells damaged by the disease and restore vision. University of Southern California – Health Sciences
LOS ANGELES — Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness for Americans 65 and older, is a progressive disease affecting central vision. Over time, faces, book pages and anything directly in front of a person become obscured by blurry, dark or blind spots.
Now, a novel clinical trial offers hope for patients with advanced “dry” age-related macular degeneration. Dry age-related macular degeneration is the most common form of the disease.
Researchers at the USC Roski Eye Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, are launching a phase 2b clinical trial examining if stem cells bioengineered to replace failing cells in the retina damaged by macular degeneration could restore eyesight. The cells are attached to an implant — an ultra-thin patch, thinner than a strand of hair — which holds the cells in place.
“We are hoping to determine if the stem-cell based retinal implant can not only stop the progression of dry age-related macular degeneration, but actually improve patients’ vision,” said Sun Young Lee, MD, PhD, a retinal surgeon with Keck Medicine and principal investigator of the Keck Medicine study site. “The findings could be groundbreaking because while there are a few treatments available that delay the progress of macular degeneration, there are none able to reverse the damage already done.”
Read more: Can a retinal implant reverse macular degeneration? | EurekAlert!
Source: EurekAlert!