Can I have a retina transplant?

Unfortunately, we are not able to transplant the retina. Similarly, whole eye transplants are not possible. The retina is a very complex neurological structure similar to the brain. Many doctors think of the retina as a piece of brain tissue that is extruded into the eye during formation of the embryo. We are not yet capable of transplanting a piece of brain tissue that has been damaged and this is similarly true of the retina.

What about stem cells? Can’t my retina be repaired with stem cells?

The sad truth is that there are a number of “stem cell” clinics that have sprung up around the country offering hope to patients for which there is no effective treatment. Because these “stem cell” clinics use cells derived from the patient’s own body, the clinics have not, until recently, been regulated by the government. This is changing. Stem cell therapy is a promising avenue of research, but it is still in its infancy. Please refer to our blog article on “Stem Cell Therapy” for a more complete discussion. There is still a lot of work to be done. Most of the stem cell clinics offering treatment are unregulated and offer no scientifically validated therapy for retinal diseases. They are also usually expensive with no coverage by insurance. Currently, we would recommend that our patients only become involved in a “stem cell” research study if it is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov, and if it is at no cost to the patient. Any legitimate clinical trial that is testing the safety and efficacy of a treatment will be free of charge to any patient involved. There was a tragic case in which a patient had “stem cells” injected into both eyes by a “stem cell clinic” and subsequently went completely blind in both eyes. Buyer beware.

​

I have heard about an “artificial retina”. Would that help to restore my vision?

There has been some very impressive work done on the artificial retinal prosthesis over the last few years. The Argus II is the only device currently approved by the FDA in the United States. This device is surgically implanted on the retina. A special pair of glasses is worn by the patient that captures images, transmits them to the implant, which then stimulates the undamaged cells of the retina. This can allow some patients that are nearly totally blind from degenerative retinal conditions, such as retinitis pigmentosa, to detect large objects and navigate around their environment better than they did before the procedure. However, it does not provide good detailed vision. As a matter of fact, patients with severe, end stage retinal disease such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, have better vision than patients that have had the Argus implant. This may improve as the technology gets better, but it is not a viable treatment for patients that have only poor central vision.

​

What about gene therapy?

This is another very promising avenue of retinal research. Recently, there have been a few clinical trails using gene therapy for retinal diseases. As a matter of fact, the first gene therapy treatment was FDA approved for a retinal disease in 2018. However, these treatments are restricted to very specific genetic mutations, so most patients with hereditary retinal diseases would not qualify for the treatment. Undoubtedly, more treatments will be developed. One way to determine whether a patient will qualify for treatment is to have genetic testing performed. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover genetic testing. At Retinal Consultants of Southern California, we offer genetic testing.  Please ask your physician for more information about the cost and benefit of testing.​​