Subretinal injection (the most common delivery route) is a surgical procedure under local or general anaesthesia, performed as an outpatient or with brief hospitalisation. Inflammation and swelling subside over 2–4 weeks; patients must avoid strenuous activity and position their head to optimise cell survival. Functional assessment of visual benefit typically takes 3–6 months, as neural integration is gradual.
Forty-four completed or ongoing clinical trials in macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases employ cell-based approaches, with 8 active trials enrolling. Early human trials have used fetal retinal tissue, placental MSCs, and more recently iPSC-derived photoreceptor precursors and RPE cells. Safety data are emerging—transplanted cells are generally tolerated, with few reports of immune rejection or severe inflammation. Functional improvements (visual acuity, light sensitivity, visual fields) have been measured in small cohorts, showing stabilisation of vision loss in some participants and modest gains in best-corrected acuity in others (typically ≤3 lines on an eye-chart). No large phase III trial has yet demonstrated a definitive vision-restoration threshold.
Am I a candidate? → · Macular Degeneration & Vision: full overview → · Macular Degeneration & Vision cost → · Cost →
Medically reviewed by StemCellAtlas’s editorial team with the Stem Plus medical team (physicians & scientists · GMP-certified Sofia laboratory · 25+ yrs international experience) of partner clinic Stem Plus (Sofia), against ISSCR, FDA & EMA guidance. Educational information, not medical advice; figures indicative.
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