Stem Cell Therapy to Prevent Blindness

This article is about stem cell research in it’s trial form in humans with progressive forms of blindness, age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt’s macular dystrophy.

I am incredibly affected by this article and what the results of this trial mean. My dad has Stargardt’s, which is a form of macular degeneration which occurs in young people, usually between the ages of 6 and 12. I’ve been told my whole life that I may develop Stargardt’s (it shows before the age of 20, so I’m safe there) but I am also 50% more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which usually affects people over 50. Stargardt’s and AMD both only affect the center of vision, leaving peripheral vision mostly in tact. One of my biggest fears has always been that I’ll lose my vision like my dad has. It’s totally heartbreaking to watch him go through daily life with his condition, but he deals with it so well.

Mostly what this article means to me is that there is some sort of hope for (maybe) myself and probably any children I may have someday. And anyone else for that matter. The therapies they are coming up with are delivering positive results and that makes me feel better because I would never want to see someone struggle through life with this issue after watching my dad deal with it.