Stem cell therapy for diabetic retinopathy in Ukraine

Stem cell therapy for diabetic retinopathy in Ukraine

Based on the name of this disease, it becomes clear that this disease manifests itself against the background of diabetes mellitus.  With diabetic retinopathy, the retina of the eye is affected and vision deteriorates sharply.

In diabetic retinopathy, small vessels are damaged, as a result of which changes occur in the eye and the retina is left without proper nutrition, due to which metabolic products accumulate in it, hemorrhages and edema occur.  Such phenomena cannot pass without a trace and nerve cells gradually die off, pathological vessels develop, which in turn leads to massive hemorrhages.  Physiological changes in the organs of vision and irreversible loss of vision occur.

The process of diabetic retinopathy itself has several stages.  In the first stage, called non-proliferative, there is an increased permeability of the vessel walls, as a result of frequent punctate hemorrhages and local expansion of the arteries.

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Then comes the proliferative stage of the disease, during which there is a disorder of the natural blood circulation in the retina, due to which the cells of the retina regularly receive less oxygen, the normal reproductive (reflective) ability of the eye is disturbed, and a slight decrease in vision occurs.  To restore the supply of the proper volume of oxygen, the body begins to desperately produce more and more new vessels that enrich the retina, however, the created vessels are pathological and new bleeding occurs through their fault (the leaked blood turns out to be on the layers of the retina and on the vitreous body, making it difficult to see, which is why  vision is temporarily blurred).

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy

At the first stages of the development of the disease, while there is a gradual deformation of the retina, the patient does not experience any special pain.  Also, with the initial development of the disease, the patient may not even notice the deterioration of vision.  When the disease leads to eye hemorrhage and the appearance of a blood mesh, blurred vision (a veil in the eyes) is clearly felt and moving dark spots appear.  Such phenomena do not last long (from a couple of hours to several days), after which they dissolve and disappear without a trace.  However, with massive hemorrhages, the consequences are not so harmless, soon there is a rapid decrease in vision or its complete loss.  This happens because vitreous cords are formed in the vitreous body, which later become the cause of retinal detachment.  In the central parts of the retina, swelling is observed, the patient cannot read and distinguish between small objects, and a sensation of fog in the eyes is also often experienced.

Prevention of blindness in diabetic patients

In some cases, people with diabetes manage to avoid the development of diabetic retinopathy and irreversible loss of vision.  Of course, the vast majority of diabetics with more than 10 years of illness show signs of retinal deformation.  However, consistent and meticulous blood glucose monitoring, healthy behavioral habits, and adherence to an established diet can significantly reduce retinal damage.  Unfortunately, the risk of vision loss from diabetic complications cannot be completely ruled out.

Diabetic retinopathy and stem cell therapy

In the course of many years of research and laboratory tests, effective programs have been developed to cure ophthalmic diseases, in particular diabetic retinopathy, using cell therapy.

The very principle of treatment of diabetic retinopathy with cell therapy consists in the unique ability of stem cells to form a new healthy network of blood vessels without affecting the damaged ones, as a result of which the blood flow gradually begins to go through healthy vessels, and abnormal ones die off, hemorrhages are reduced, and the retina is sufficiently enriched with oxygen.  Also, stem cells become substitutes for deformed tissues of the optic organ, and contribute to the formation of healthy tissue cells.  Therefore, soon after the transplantation of cells into the eye zone, visual abilities are restored and the normal functioning of the organ of vision is debugged.

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However, even after undergoing a course of stem cell treatment and stopping the development of diabetic retinopathy, it should be remembered that coping with this destructive disease can only be effectively treated by diabetes, the cause of side diseases, and you will also have to regularly follow a diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

An alternative to stem therapy in diabetic retinopathy is conservative therapy and laser influence on the molecule.  However, even with such influences, damaged vessels are not completely restored, healthy tissues of the optic organ do not form and independent new eye vessels do not form.  Therefore, it is possible to talk about a really effective way to stop the development of the harmful effects of diabetic retinopathy only in the case of cell therapy.

When contacting qualified stem cell institutes, no surgical interventions in the eye area are performed.  Stem cell transplantation is performed through a vein or injected by drip.  Therefore, the risk of additional damage to the eye is minimal.

After internal transplantation of cells, they start the process of regeneration of damaged vessels and tissues within 50 days.  The benefits of cell therapy for diabetic retinopathy are clear.

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