Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the top cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans aged 65 and older.
This condition slowly damages the center of a person’s vision, making it hard to read, recognize faces, or see objects straight ahead. As the disease gets worse, people may see blurry areas, dark spots, or even lose central vision completely.
Now, there is a new clinical trial that could bring hope to people with advanced dry AMD, the most common form of this disease. Right now, treatment options for dry AMD are very limited.
Researchers at the USC Roski Eye Institute, which is part of Keck Medicine of USC, are starting a Phase 2b clinical trial. They are testing whether stem cells can be used to replace damaged cells in the eye and possibly bring back some vision. The stem cells are placed on a tiny implant—so thin it’s smaller than a strand of hair—that can be inserted into the eye.
Dr. Sun Young Lee, a retinal surgeon and lead researcher of the study at USC, said they hope the implant will not only stop AMD from getting worse but may actually improve vision. This would be a big step forward, because while some treatments can slow the disease, none can reverse the damage that has already happened.
This new trial builds on earlier research. In a previous small study, researchers found the implant was safe and stayed in place after surgery. Even better, about 27% of the patients had some improvement in their vision.
Dr. Lee, who is also a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, explained that the next phase of the study will look at whether the implant can make a real, lasting difference in how well people can see.
AMD damages a part of the eye called the macula, which is at the center of the retina. This area is important for sharp, clear vision. In advanced stages of dry AMD, special cells in the eye called retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are damaged or stop working. These cells are vital for keeping the eye healthy, and their loss causes vision to decline.
The implant in the trial is made using stem cells taken from human embryos. Scientists grow the stem cells into RPE cells in a lab. Then, during a short outpatient surgery, the thin implant with these lab-grown cells is placed into the patient’s retina.
Dr. Rodrigo Fernandes, an eye surgeon on the study team, explained that the goal is for these new cells to take over the job of the damaged ones and help restore vision in patients who currently have few options.
Keck Medicine is one of five hospitals across the U.S. taking part in the trial. It is a masked study, meaning some people will receive the implant, while others will get a similar procedure without the implant, so researchers can compare the results fairly.
To join the trial, people must be between 55 and 90 years old and have advanced dry AMD with a condition called geographic atrophy, where RPE cells are already damaged or missing. The study will follow each patient for at least one year to see how well they do after surgery and whether their vision improves.
The study plans to include 24 patients in total. People who want more information can contact the study team at mariana.edwards@med.usc.edu or kimberly.rodriguez2@med.usc.edu.
Dr. Mark Humayun, a leader at the USC Roski Eye Institute, says the institute is focused on finding new ways to bring back sight. He believes this kind of stem cell therapy could be one of the best chances to help people with dry AMD—and one day, it might even lead to a cure.
Reviewing this study, we see that early results are encouraging. The treatment seems safe, and some patients have already seen improvement.
But it’s still early. The next step is to see whether more patients can benefit and how long the effects last. This research is a strong step forward for people with dry AMD, offering real hope where very few treatments exist today.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
