Stem Cell Therapy for Optic Nerve Atrophy

Optic nerve atrophy (ONA) is an extremely serious disease of the eye where damage or progressive degeneration affects the optic nerve, the crucial pathway for relaying visual signals from the retina to the brain. The ability to relay images via the optic nerve is disrupted, which may result in partial vision loss or, in some cases, complete vision loss. Unlike other tissue throughout the body, the optic nerve has a very limited ability in terms of regeneration. The challenge associated with regeneration is a particular challenge since most treatments available do not restore function; they only help treat the symptoms of the condition.

However, stem cell therapy has emerged recently in the past decade or so as a novel therapeutic approach with the potential to repair and/or regenerate damaged optic nerve tissue. Researchers are exploring the inherent properties of stem cells to differentiate them into different cell types, and to see if these therapies aid in rescuing degenerating or degenerating optic nerve fibers, and restore optic nerve function or regenerate optic nerve tissue.

What is Optic Nerve Atrophy?
Optic nerve atrophy is not a standalone disease in itself, but a response to background processes that damage the optic nerve. Common causes of optic nerve atrophy include:

Glaucoma (eye pressure causing damage)
Optic neuritis (inflammation often associated with multiple sclerosis)
Ischemia (threatened blood flow to the optic nerve)
Trauma (injury to the eye or head)
Toxins and genetic diseases (such as Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy)
Once optic nerve fibers are damaged, the brain receives a signal that is incomplete or distorted resulting in a decrease in vision, blurry vision, blind spots or total loss of vision. Treatment options available today (for example medications to control eye pressure, or steroids to decrease inflammation) can only address the underlying issue, as they cannot regenerate the damaged nerve tissue.

Stem cell therapy brings a new dimension of hope at this juncture.