For years, Margaret Lee, 68, enjoyed her daily evening walks, taking in the sunset’s warm hues. But slowly, her vision began to fade, and she struggled to see the colors she once adored.
Diagnosed with glaucoma five years ago, she faithfully used prescribed eye drops and underwent laser treatment. Yet, her vision kept declining, leaving her frustrated and scared.
Like millions worldwide, she was told that nothing could restore her sight—until now. (Margaret Lee is a fictitious character created to illustrate the challenges faced by glaucoma patients.)
A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Mike Chan and his team at the European Wellness Biomedical Group offers a new approach that could change the future of glaucoma treatment: targeted organ-and-brain specific precursor stem cell therapy.
Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, affecting over 80 million people. It’s called the “silent thief of sight” because it develops gradually, often without symptoms, until significant vision loss has occurred. It damages the optic nerve, which carries images from the eye to the brain. Once lost, vision cannot be restored—until now.
Many people delay treatment because they don’t notice symptoms early on, fear expensive medical bills, or believe poor eyesight is just part of aging. By the time they seek help, the damage is already severe.
Why Current Treatments Aren’t Enough
For years, glaucoma treatments have focused on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) to slow the disease’s progression. These include:
- Eye Drops: The most common treatment, these reduce fluid buildup in the eye but must be used for life and can cause irritation.
- Laser Therapy: Procedures like selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) improve fluid drainage but may lose effectiveness over time.
- Surgery: Invasive procedures like trabeculectomy create new drainage pathways but carry risks such as infection and long recovery times.
While these treatments help manage glaucoma, they don’t repair the damaged optic nerve or restore lost vision. That’s where targeted organ-and-brain specific precursor stem cell therapy comes in.
Stem Cell Therapy: A Game-Changer
A new study led by Prof. Mike Chan and his team explores how stem cells can be used to repair and regenerate damaged retinal tissue. Unlike traditional treatments, precursor stem cell therapy offers the potential to restore vision by restoring dying cells and healing the optic nerve.
According to Prof. Mike Chan, “Instead of just slowing down the disease, we are now looking at ways to reverse vision loss. Targeted organ-and-brain specific precursor stem cell therapy has the potential to do what no other treatment has been able to achieve.”
Scientists are studying different types of stem cells for glaucoma treatment:
- Retinal Progenitor Cells (RPCs): These early-stage retinal cells can develop into new retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), helping to restore lost vision.
- Ciliary Epithelial Cells (CECs): Found in the eye, these cells have the ability to regenerate and may help repair damaged nerves.
- Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) Progenitor Cells: Located in the brain, these cells process visual information and could support optic nerve repair.
- Optic Nerve Progenitor Cells: New research suggests these cells could help rebuild connections between the retina and the brain, offering a pathway to vision restoration.
How Precursor Stem Cells Can Transform Glaucoma Treatment
Prof. Mike Chan explains how stem cells could revolutionize glaucoma care:
- Regenerating Lost Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs): “Precursor stem cells can develop into new RGCs, which are essential for carrying visual signals from the eye to the brain. This means we could actually reverse vision loss,” says Prof. Mike Chan.
- Protecting Remaining Cells: “Stem cells release protective proteins like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which help safeguard the cells that are still functioning,” he explains.
- Repairing the Optic Nerve: “One of the biggest challenges with glaucoma is restoring the optic nerve,” he notes. “Stem cells show promise in regenerating these nerve fibers, potentially reconnecting the eye and brain.”
- Supporting Retinal Healing: “Stem cells secrete molecules that help repair damaged tissue, strengthening the optic nerve and slowing further degeneration,” adds Prof. Mike Chan.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the potential is groundbreaking, precursor stem cell therapy is still in the research phase, with some hurdles to overcome:
- Ensuring Long-Term Survival: Transplanted stem cells must integrate properly into the eye and function effectively.
- Preventing Immune Rejection: The body’s immune system might attack the new cells, reducing their effectiveness.
- Directing Proper Cell Development: Scientists must ensure the stem cells grow into the right types of cells needed for vision restoration.
- Confirming Long-Term Safety: Extensive clinical trials are required to ensure the treatment is safe and delivers lasting benefits.
A Future Without Blindness?
Prof. Mike Chan and his team remain optimistic that stem cell therapy could change how glaucoma is treated. “For decades, glaucoma has been seen as an irreversible disease. But our research suggests that this may not be the case. With further advancements, targeted organ-and-brand specific precursor stem cell therapy could offer a real cure,” he says.
For those affected by glaucoma, this research brings new hope. While stem cell therapy is not yet widely available, scientific progress is moving quickly. The key to saving vision remains early diagnosis, so routine eye examinations, especially for those at risk, are essential.
The future of glaucoma therapy is evolving, and with continued research, blindness from this condition could one day be a thing of the past.
Download the Full Report
Want to learn more? Download the full research report from the European Wellness Biomedical Group to explore the latest advancements in glaucoma treatment and discover how precursor stem cell therapy could change lives. Stay informed and take control of your eye health today.
Download here: https://european-wellness.eu/publications/treatment-of-glaucoma-with-progenitor-precursor-stem-cells/
Follow European Wellness on:
Follow European Wellness Academy on:
Follow Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan on:
Comments are closed.