Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells (MSCs)

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.
EyeCyte does not sell, offer, recommend or refer for treatment. Be cautious of any clinic offering unapproved stem-cell or biologic injections for the eye; the FDA has warned of serious harm, including blindness.

Full medical disclaimer · RUO policy · Medical review policy

Mesenchymal stromal cells — often called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — are cells found in tissues such as bone marrow, fat and the umbilical cord. International criteria define MSCs by laboratory characteristics such as surface markers and the ability to differentiate into bone, fat and cartilage cells in culture.

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.

What MSCs are

MSCs are defined in the laboratory by consensus criteria; preparations from different sources and manufacturers can differ substantially.^[1]

Sources

Bone marrow, adipose (fat) tissue, umbilical cord (including Wharton’s jelly), and other tissues.

What researchers study in the eye

Paracrine signaling — the growth factors, cytokines and extracellular vesicles MSCs secrete.

Immunomodulation — effects on immune cells, studied in models of ocular inflammation.

Neuroprotection — retinal ganglion cell survival in animal models of glaucoma and optic nerve injury.

Angiogenesis and tissue repair in laboratory and animal models.

EVIDENCE VERIFICATION REQUIRED. Specific studies have not yet been verified by our reviewers. Search the literature: PubMed search: mesenchymal stem cells ophthalmology

Where the evidence stands

Most MSC research in ophthalmology is preclinical. Human evidence is limited and early-stage.

Regulatory status: to our knowledge as of our last review, no product in this category is FDA-approved to treat an eye disease. The FDA has warned the public about unapproved stem cell and exosome products.^[2]

A documented risk

A published case series described severe vision loss after intravitreal injection of autologous cell preparations at a clinic outside a regulated trial.^[3]

Answers

Related conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

Are MSC eye injections approved?

Not to our knowledge for any eye disease. The FDA has warned about unapproved stem cell products.

Patients

Discuss medical decisions with a licensed eye-care professional.

Find an Eye-Care Professional →

Professionals

Scientific education and research resources.

For Providers — Get More Information →

References

Dominici M, et al. Minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. The International Society for Cellular Therapy position statement. Cytotherapy, 2006. [Consensus / position statement · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]
FDA Warns About Stem Cell Therapies (consumer update). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Regulator · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]
Kuriyama AE, Albini TA, et al. Vision Loss after Intravitreal Injection of Autologous "Stem Cells" for AMD. New England Journal of Medicine, 2017. [Peer-reviewed study · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]

Live searches (always current)

PubMed search: mesenchymal stem cells ophthalmology — PubMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)