About the Disease
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. It affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Patients experience blurred or dark central vision, making it difficult to read, drive, or recognize faces. Standard treatments (like anti-VEGF injections) help slow progression in “wet AMD” but cannot restore lost retinal cells. Stem cell therapy aims to replace damaged retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and regenerate retinal tissue, potentially restoring vision.
Institutes / Clinics Offering Stem Cell Therapy for Macular Degeneration
- Moorfields Eye Hospital – London, UK
- Conducted pioneering trials using embryonic stem cell–derived RPE cells implanted under the retina for AMD patients.
- Early results showed improved vision in some participants.
- Moorfields Eye Hospital
- Schepens Eye Research Institute (Harvard Medical School) – Boston, USA
- Developing stem cell–based approaches for retinal regeneration in AMD.
- Schepens/Harvard Ophthalmology
- UC Santa Barbara Stem Cell Center – California, USA
- Researching RPE stem cell transplantation for macular degeneration.
- UCSB Stem Cell Center
- Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine – USA/Japan
- Formerly Ocata Therapeutics, ran clinical trials for human embryonic stem cell–derived RPE therapy for AMD.
- Astellas Regenerative Medicine
- Center for Sight – Sarasota, Florida, USA
- Involved in retinal stem cell clinical studies for dry macular degeneration.
- Center for Sight
