Hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells in Turkey/Istanbul. The best way to treat pigmentosa retinitis is to inject stem cells into the retina.
Overview of hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells in Turkey
First and foremost, retinitis pigmentosa causing night blindness is a hereditary disease formed due to various genetic diseases whose genes can be recessive, autosomal dominant, or sex-linked.
In this disease, the retinal cells (rods) responsible for seeing mainly at night are damaged, and other retinal cells gradually deteriorate.
For this reason, the patient’s vision first starts to decrease at night and then during the day.
In the more advanced stages, only a narrow circular central field of vision remains; in the final stage, it may even completely obscure vision.
It is impossible to say when the visual field will be completely lost.
You can learn more about lazy eye treatments available in Turkey today.
What is a stem cell?
Hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells focuses on harnessing the regenerative potential of stem cells to restore vision. Stem cells are undifferentiated, immature primary cells with the remarkable ability to transform into various other cell types in the body. In a conducive growth environment, these cells can stabilize, proliferate, and differentiate into specialized cells required for tissue regeneration.
In the case of hereditary blindness, stem cells have the potential to regenerate damaged eye tissues, restoring structure and function. By mimicking the surrounding cells, stem cells can help maintain the integrity of the eye’s tissues and promote healing, offering hope for those affected by hereditary vision loss.
How are stem cells obtained?
Hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells can involve obtaining stem cells from various organs or tissues in the adult human body. These stem cells can be either autologous, meaning sourced from the patient themselves, or allogenic, meaning derived from another individual. Both types of stem cells have the potential to aid in the regeneration of damaged eye tissues, offering promising avenues for treating hereditary blindness.
How are stem cell studies being used in treating hereditary blindness, specifically for retinitis pigmentosa?
The first study on hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells was conducted in Turkey by Prof. Dr. Günur Supaçi from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology. This initial trial, involving 10 patients, yielded promising results. Subsequent studies followed, leading to approval by the Ministry of Health. Currently, the Ministry of Health permits the application of this stem cell treatment to patients outside of the formal study.
It is worth noting that the success rate of this operation so far does not exceed seventy percent.
Who is eligible for hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells in Turkey?
So far, all studies on hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells have been conducted in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, with specific prerequisites for treatment eligibility.
- The patient must be over 18 years of age.
- The visual acuity must be less than 0.05.
- The patient must be free of other systemic and ocular diseases (such as cataracts).
Based on the results of these studies, the criteria for treatment may expand in future applications. Looking at ongoing phase II studies worldwide, stem cell treatments are also being applied to cases of macular degeneration and advanced dry macular degeneration. There are even phase I studies exploring the treatment of optic nerve atrophy.
In Turkey, phase II studies on hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells have begun, involving patients with macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, and optic nerve atrophy. The results have been very successful and promising. The latest study has progressed to Phase III, confirming the benefits of intraretinal stem cell transplantation and demonstrating no eye side effects over a six-month period, which is considered the riskiest phase.
At Bimaristan, we offer information on the latest advancements in hereditary blindness treatment with stem cells, along with cutting-edge techniques such as electronic retinal transplantation and sutureless corneal transplantation. You can learn more about these innovative treatments on our website.
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