Age-related macular degeneration damages the macula, the part of the retina that gives sharp central vision, and is a leading cause of sight loss in older adults. In the dry form, the supporting retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and light-sensing cells slowly die; in the wet form, abnormal blood vessels leak. Scientists are testing whether lab-grown RPE cells, made from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, can replace the cells that are lost.
AT A GLANCE · MACULAR DEGENERATION
| Evidence level | Promising – in clinical trials |
|---|---|
| Approved stem cell treatment? | No stem cell product is approved for macular degeneration by the US FDA, the European EMA, or regulators in Japan or Korea. |
| Typical private price | $5,000 – $20,000 (indicative) |
| Recruiting trials | 9 listed on ClinicalTrials.gov (4 October 2026) |
| Last reviewed | October 2026 |
Does stem cell therapy work for macular degeneration?
Research-grade cell replacement is being tested in carefully controlled early trials. In Japan, researchers transplanted a sheet of RPE cells grown from a patient’s own induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in 2014, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017; vision stayed stable for a year with no tumours or rejection, but did not clearly improve. A follow-up study in 2017 used donor iPS-derived RPE cells in five patients with wet AMD, again focusing on safety.
In the UK, a team transplanted an embryonic stem cell-derived RPE patch in two patients with severe wet AMD (2018), and a US phase 1/2a trial of a similar patch in advanced dry AMD has reported acceptable safety, with some patients gaining reading vision. These studies involve only a few to a few dozen people, mostly without control groups, so benefit is not yet proven. In stark contrast, a 2017 New England Journal of Medicine report described three women aged 72 to 88 who went blind after a Florida clinic injected fat-derived ‘stem cells’ into both eyes, causing retinal detachment and bleeding.
Is any stem cell treatment approved for macular degeneration?
No stem cell product is approved for macular degeneration by the US FDA, the European EMA, or regulators in Japan or Korea. RPE cell transplants are only available inside registered clinical trials at academic centres. A different stem cell product for a rare corneal injury is approved in Europe, but it has nothing to do with AMD.
What private clinics offer — and how it compares
Some private clinics inject a patient’s own fat- or bone marrow-derived cells into or behind the eye, sometimes in both eyes on the same day, and may label this a ‘study’ that patients pay to join. This is very different from research trials, which use purpose-made RPE cells delivered by retinal surgeons, treat one eye at a time and follow patients closely, and the clinic approach has caused permanent blindness.
Proven treatments to discuss first
Before paying for an experimental option, make sure you have explored the established treatments for macular degeneration with your doctor:
- Anti-VEGF eye injections for wet AMD (such as aflibercept, ranibizumab or faricimab), which can preserve and sometimes improve vision
- Complement-inhibitor eye injections for geographic atrophy (advanced dry AMD), FDA-approved in 2023
- AREDS2-formula vitamins for people with intermediate or advanced AMD, as advised by an eye doctor
- Stopping smoking and regular home monitoring with an Amsler grid
- Low-vision rehabilitation, magnifiers and assistive technology
How much does stem cell therapy for macular degeneration cost?
Private clinics typically quote $5,000 to $20,000. The three Florida patients described in the 2017 New England Journal of Medicine report each paid $5,000 for the eye injections. Clinic prices vary and are not covered by insurance; genuine research trials do not charge patients for the cells. Compare prices by country in our cost guide and location guides, and check insurance coverage.
Risks and side effects
- Retinal detachment and bleeding inside the eye, which can cause permanent blindness
- Raised eye pressure, cataract and severe inflammation after injection
- Infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis)
- Treating both eyes at once, risking loss of sight in both eyes
- Delaying anti-VEGF injections for wet AMD, which can lead to rapid, irreversible vision loss
Recruiting clinical trials for macular degeneration
On 4 October 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov listed 9 recruiting or soon-to-recruit stem cell studies for this condition, 3 with sites in the United States. Here are up to eight, latest-stage first:
See all matching studies on ClinicalTrials.gov. A listing is not an endorsement: registration does not mean a study is safe or effective, and genuine trials rarely charge you for the experimental treatment. Ask the study team about costs, placebo groups and follow-up before you enrol. See our clinical trials hub.
Questions to ask before you agree to treatment
- Will a retina specialist perform the procedure, and are you treating only one eye?
- What type of cells are used, and are they RPE cells made under research-grade conditions or my own fat or bone marrow cells?
- Is this a registered trial with ethics approval and an FDA IND number, and why am I being asked to pay?
- How will this affect my current anti-VEGF or geographic atrophy treatment?
Before You Pay: The Stem Cell Clinic Checklist
- 20 questions every legitimate clinic should answer in writing
- A red-flag scorecard to spot unregulated marketing
- Realistic 2026 cost ranges: US, Mexico, Panama & Europe
- How to find a registered clinical trial
Red flags to watch for
- Injecting cells into both eyes on the same day
- Being asked to pay to take part in a so-called eye ‘trial’
- Advice to stop or delay anti-VEGF injections from your retina specialist
Stem cell therapy for macular degeneration: FAQs
Does stem cell therapy work for macular degeneration?
Not yet proven. Early trials of lab-grown RPE cells have shown acceptable safety and stable vision in small numbers of patients, with some gains reported. Larger controlled trials are needed before anyone can say it restores sight.
Is stem cell therapy for macular degeneration FDA approved?
No. The FDA has not approved any stem cell treatment for AMD. Approved treatments include anti-VEGF injections for wet AMD and complement-inhibitor injections for geographic atrophy.
What happened to the patients blinded by stem cell eye injections?
In a 2017 New England Journal of Medicine report, three women with AMD paid $5,000 each for fat-derived cell injections into both eyes at a Florida clinic. Within a week they had retinal detachments and bleeding, and they lost most or all of their vision.
What is happening with iPS cell treatment for AMD in Japan?
Japanese researchers performed the world’s first transplant of RPE cells made from a patient’s own iPS cells in 2014 and later used donor iPS cells. These were small safety studies; vision mostly stayed stable rather than improving, and the approach is still experimental.
Is stem cell therapy for AMD covered by insurance?
No. Clinic stem cell eye injections are unproven and not covered. Standard AMD treatments such as anti-VEGF injections are generally covered by insurance and Medicare.
Related guides
- Stem cell therapy for hair loss
- Stem cell therapy for COPD
- Stem cell therapy for heart failure
- Stem cell therapy for kidney disease
- All conditions · Types of stem cell treatment · Clinical trials hub
Sources
- Vision Loss after Intravitreal Injection of Autologous ‘Stem Cells’ for AMD (NEJM, 2017)
- Autologous Induced Stem-Cell-Derived Retinal Cells for Macular Degeneration (NEJM, 2017)
- Unproven stem cell ‘therapy’ blinds three patients at Florida clinic (ScienceDaily)
- RIKEN: First donor iPSC-derived RPE cell transplantation in AMD patient (2017)
- Stem Cell Therapies for Retinal Degenerations (Retinal Physician, 2025)
- Transplant of iPSC-Derived RPE Strips for Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa (Ophthalmology Science, 2025)
Last reviewed October 2026. For general information only — not medical advice. We do not endorse any clinic or product. Always consult a qualified, licensed healthcare professional. See our medical disclaimer and editorial policy.