About Macular Degeneration

The macula is responsible for central vision, is an oval-shaped highly pigmented yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye.

It has a diameter of around 5 mm and is often histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells. Because the macula is yellow it absorbs excess blue and ultraviolet light that enters the eye and acts as a natural sunblock or sunglasses for this area of the retina. Structures in the macula are specialized for high acuity vision.

Damage to the macula will result in loss of central vision, the progressive destruction of the macula is a disease known as macular degeneration and can sometimes lead to the creation of a macular hole. Macular holes are rarely caused by trauma, but if a severe blow is delivered it can burst the blood vessels going to the macula, destroying it. A maculopathy is any pathological condition of the macula.

Stem cells are a special type of cell that has not yet dedicated itself to a particular type of tissue. Most cells in the body are specific and local to a certain body part. For example, skin cells always make new skin cells, and brain cells always make new brain cells. Stem cells are not limited in this way. Instead, these new cells will take on the form of the tissue that surrounds them.

Because of this property, stem cells can be effectively used to aid in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. This is at the heart of stem cell therapy and is why these treatments can be so effective for patients suffering from Macular Degeneration, by giving worn-down tissue the proper tools to repair itself, the body can regenerate naturally.

Stem cell therapy has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients whose tissues or organs have weakened or shown signs of fatigue. The weakness and degeneration of these systems can be counteracted or reversed through this treatment. In effect, stem cells invigorate the other tissue and boost the body’s organic functions.

How Stem Cell Therapy Works

Stem cells can be harvested from adipose tissue or Human Umbilical Cord Tissue, which includes fresh cells, proteins, growth factors, and other tools necessary to rebuild damaged organs or tissue.

Although these substances exist naturally in an individual’s bone marrow/adipose tissue they are usually not released into a person’s bloodstream in sufficient quantities to repair damage throughout the body. By liberating the stem cells and relocating them to an affected area, stem cell treatment solves this problem.

The response to stem cell therapy has given very good results to our patients.