Stem cell therapy in retinal diseases: current evidence

Introduction: Retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and Stargardt disease, significantly impact vision and quality of life, necessitating innovative therapeutic solutions. Current interventions are often restrictive, focusing primarily on symptom management and slowing disease progression. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach to retinal diseases, offering the potential for not only disease halting and vision restoration, but also structural healing. Areas Covered: This narrative review delineates various stem cell categories under investigation, evidence from preclinical and clinical trials regarding their efficacy and safety, and challenges in implementing stem cell therapies, including technical, ethical, and regulatory aspects. Expert Opinion: The promise of stem cell therapy could revolutionize the treatment of retinal diseases, offering the potential to restore vision where only management strategies exist currently. Technical and ethical hurdles exist, but ongoing research and technological advancements hold the promise of overcoming these challenges. Stem cell therapy, despite its infancy, could become a vital component in the treatment of retinal diseases within the next decade. Nevertheless, the utmost caution must be exercised to ensure patient safety and therapy efficacy before wide-scale adoption.