Visual acuity stabilisation—halting the decline seen in untreated AMD—has been reported in 50–75% of treated eyes in small published series. Meaningful visual improvement (gain of ≥2 lines on acuity chart) occurs in approximately 20–40% of cases. Success rates are higher for inherited dystrophies (where some visual circuits remain intact) than for advanced AMD with large geographic atrophy (where extensive tissue loss has occurred).
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.
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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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