Recent studies suggest stem cells may be a useful treatment for blindness in the near future. Two recent studies suggest stem cells have potential for treating conditions that cause retinal degeneration.

Scientists with the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Japan used adult stem cells taken from mice to grow new retina tissue. This tissue was then transplanted into mice with late-state retinal degeneration. After the procedure, the scientists tested the mice to see if their vision was restored. According to the results, 40 percent of the mice regained the ability to see light after one month. However, the researchers were quick to note that it may be many years before this treatment is tested on humans.

Another study recently published in Cell Stem Cell carried out a similar procedure on mice. These scientists found a way to prevent the immune system from rejecting stem cells used to rebuild photoreceptors, cells in the retina that sense light. Researchers injected the mice with cells that lacked a mechanism responsible for triggering an immune response. Mice injected with the stem cells could make out light and movement.

Both studies are promising because they take a step in the direction of curing certain types of blindness in humans.

How Could Stem Cells Be Used to Treat Blindness?

Stem cell treatments could be useful for people suffering from macular degeneration, a condition that degrades the retina over time. More than 15 million people suffer from macular degeneration in the United States.

Stem cells are also a possible treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Specifically, stem cells taken from the umbilical cord may prove very useful for treating the condition before it causes blindness.

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Premature or low-birth weight babies are at-risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). ROP occurs because blood vessels in the eyes develop outside of the womb. These conditions are not optimal, and with ROP, blood vessels grow abnormally. If left untreated, this abnormal growth may cause retinal detachment and permanent blindness.

ROP may also resolve on its own without treatment. However, there is no way for doctors to know beforehand if ROP will not progress. Once ROP reaches a certain threshold, the risk of retinal detachment and blindness increase substantially. For these reasons, it is very important for preemies to receive treatments like laser therapy, which stop abnormal blood vessel growth and prevent blindness.

What Can Happen When Preemies Do Not Receive Treatment for ROP?

It helps to understand what happens when preemies do not receive treatment for ROP. The consequences of not receiving treatment are very apparent in the developing world. In many countries, there are no specialists or equipment to prevent this condition from progressing. Preemies born in these countries who develop ROP are more likely to suffer permanent vision loss than those born in the US. This makes ROP one of the primary causes of preventable blindness in the world.

Unfortunately, there are harmful rumors about ROP treatment. One of the most harmful is that laser therapy is unnecessarily risky, and should only be a last resort. This misconception is incredibly harmful to preemies and their families. A failure to treat this condition means preemies may be disabled for life.

Failing to treat ROP may be medical malpractice. The medical community has a standard protocol for treating this condition. Parents of preemies blinded by ROP should contact a medical malpractice attorney to explore legal options.

Bloomberg recently published an article discussing how technology can improve the quality of life for people with blindness. The fact that the article was written by a blind person proves technology can help with daily tasks. In this case, the author describe writing with a customized PC that enlarges icons and text. It is one example of many technologies that can help people with blindness. Others include the following:

• Magnifying text: Tablets and smartphones can use apps to work as magnifiers. In the Bloomberg article, the author mentions how they use these apps to read restaurant menus, signs and other important information. Apps like Make it Big or LargeType are examples.
• Giving directions: Some smartphone and tablet apps like BlindSquare use GPS and voice guidance to provide detailed directions for people with blindness. Depending on the app, users receive turn-by-turn directions that help with navigation. Future apps may offer directions inside of buildings.
• Describing objects: Apps like TapTapSee, use smartphone cameras and voice guidance to describe objects. Users take photos of objects and receive descriptions. For objects the app does not recognize, users upload photos onto social media for identification.
• Describing text: Several programs and apps read text and provide voice guidance for users. This is useful for reading signs, menus, books and other written material. It is especially helpful for writing.

Can Parents of Preemies with ROP Use These Apps?

As the author of the Bloomberg article noted, these technologies did not exist several decades ago. Apps and other technologies may make schooling easier for blind children. Parents of preemies who suffered ROP blindness may find some of these apps useful, especially in an educational setting.

The retinopathy of prematurity lawyers at Shapiro Law Group are dedicated to helping parents of preemies with ROP blindness.