Wharton’s Jelly

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

Wharton’s jelly is the gelatinous connective tissue inside the umbilical cord. It contains MSCs and an extracellular matrix rich in signaling molecules, which has made it a subject of laboratory research.

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 it is

A matrix of collagen, hyaluronic acid and other molecules, with resident stromal cells, that cushions the umbilical vessels.

What researchers study

Umbilical-cord-derived MSCs, their secreted factors and extracellular vesicles, and the extracellular matrix — predominantly in laboratory and animal research.

EVIDENCE VERIFICATION REQUIRED. Specific studies have not yet been verified by our reviewers. Search the literature: PubMed search: Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells eye

Limitations

Evidence in ophthalmology is preliminary. Wharton’s jelly products are not FDA-approved ophthalmic therapies to our knowledge, and products marketed for treatment may be subject to FDA enforcement.

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.^[1]

Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wharton’s jelly an approved eye treatment?

No, not to our knowledge. It is studied in laboratory and early research.

Patients

Discuss medical decisions with a licensed eye-care professional.

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Professionals

Scientific education and research resources.

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References

FDA Warns About Stem Cell Therapies (consumer update). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Regulator · citation details pending reviewer confirmation]

Live searches (always current)

PubMed search: Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells eye — PubMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)