Retina Surgery & Stem Cell Therapy
Retina Surgery
Retina surgery is a form of surgery that treats and repairs problems with the retina, the thin, light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye.
The retina is a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that is responsible for processing light and transmitting visual information to the brain. Retinal degeneration can be caused by a variety of factors, including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and other genetic conditions.
All conventional treatments used for retinal disease can slow the progression of the disease. However, successful long-term results can only be achieved by repairing and renewing the damaged retinal tissue.
This is where stem cell therapy comes into play in retinal degeneration. Because the retina does not have the ability to repair itself, that is, regenerative. In recent years, promising results have been achieved in this field. Stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration is a promising new approach to treating vision loss caused by a number of retinal diseases.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells are a type of cell that can differentiate into a range of other cell types, including retinal ones. In these therapies, they are transplanted into the eye to replace damaged or lost retinal cells and restore visual function.
There are two main approaches to stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration: Autologous and allogeneic stem cells. The first therapy uses the patient’s own stem cells, usually obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue. These cells are then differentiated into retinal cells and transplanted into the eye. The second method uses stem cells from a donor, which are also diversified into retinal cells and transplanted into the patient’s eye.
Types of Retinal Surgeries
There are several types of retina surgery, including:
Vitrectomy
This is the most common type of retinal surgery, in which the vitreous gel that fills the eye is removed and replaced with a saline solution. This can help improve vision by allowing light to pass through the eye more easily and reach the retina.
Retinal Detachment Surgery
This operation involves reattaching the retina to the back of the eye, which can become detached due to injury, disease or other factors. It involves using a gas bubble to push the retina back into place or using a scleral buckle, a band that is placed around the eye to support the retina.
Macular Hole Surgery
It is used to repair a hole in the macula. The macula is the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Macular hole surgery involves removing the vitreous gel and inserting a gas bubble to keep the hole closed while it heals.
Candidates for Steam Cell Therapy for Retinal Degeneration
In general, patients eligible for stem cell therapy to treat retinal degeneration must meet certain criteria, such as having a specific genetic mutation known to cause the disease, a certain level of visual acuity or visual field loss, and good overall health. The exact criteria for participation in clinical trials may vary depending on the study and the stage of the research.
The Advantages of Steam Cell Therapy for Retinal Degeneration
Although it is a treatment method that is still in development, stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration has several potential benefits, including:
Restoration of lost vision
One of the main benefits of stem cell therapy is the ability to restore lost vision in patients with retinal degeneration. This is achieved by replacing damaged or dying cells with healthy retinal cells that can function properly and transmit visual information to the brain.
Using minimally invasive method
Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis. This means patients can usually go home the same day with minimal discomfort and minor side effects.
Low risk of rejection
This therapy using the patient’s own cells (autologous) carries a low risk of rejection by the immune system as the cells are recognized as “self”. This reduces the need for immunosuppressive drugs and minimizes the risk of complications.
Potential for long-term benefits
Stem cell therapy has the potential to help patients with retinal degeneration over the long term. Once the new cells integrate into the retina and begin functioning, they can continue to provide visual information to the brain for many years.
Stem cell therapy also has the potential to advance research in the field of retinal degeneration. By studying the behavior of stem cells and their ability to differentiate into different cell types, scientists can gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of retinal degeneration and develop new treatments and therapies.
