Cell Replacement

Last medically reviewed: October 7, 2026

⚠ Important — educational information only, not medical advice

EyeCyte provides educational and scientific information and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Emerging regenerative and biologic technologies discussed on this website may be experimental, investigational, unapproved, or supported only by preclinical evidence. Patients should discuss medical decisions with appropriately licensed healthcare professionals.
Not an FDA-approved treatment unless explicitly stated. Except where a page names an FDA-approved product, the stem-cell, MSC, exosome, extracellular-vesicle, Wharton’s jelly and other biologic approaches described here are not FDA-approved for any eye condition. Research findings — especially laboratory and animal studies — are not proof that anything works or is safe in people.
Research-Use-Only (RUO): Research-Use-Only (RUO) materials referenced on EyeCyte are for laboratory research by qualified professionals only. They are not drugs, biologics or devices approved for human use, are not intended for administration to people, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.
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Cell replacement research aims to replace cells lost to disease with laboratory-derived cells.

Research is not treatment. The studies summarized below are investigational. They are presented for education only, do not show that any approach is safe or effective in patients, and are not a recommendation. Unless stated as FDA-approved, none of these approaches is approved for this condition. RUO materials are not for human use.

Where it stands

RPE replacement in macular degeneration is the most advanced example, at the early human research stage. Photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell replacement remain largely preclinical.^{[1, 2]}

Answers

What is cell replacement in eye disease research?

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References

Schwartz SD, et al. Human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium in patients with age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's macular dystrophy: follow-up of two open-label phase 1/2 studies. The Lancet, 2015. [Peer-reviewed study · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]
da Cruz L, et al. Phase 1 clinical study of an embryonic stem cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium patch in age-related macular degeneration. Nature Biotechnology, 2018. [Peer-reviewed study · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]