Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)

Is Stem Cell Treatment for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) Effective?

Are you exploring Stem Cell Therapy for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) or similar visual impairments?

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia is a congenital condition where the optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, is underdeveloped. This can lead to significant vision loss or blindness. Standard treatments primarily focus on managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life. However, recent studies suggest that stem cell therapy offers the potential to repair damaged or underdeveloped optic nerves, providing new hope for ONH patients.

Read on to discover if stem cell therapy could benefit Optic Nerve Hypoplasia.

Stem Cell Treatment for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: A Breakthrough in Visual Rehabilitation

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for optic nerve-related disorders. Through targeted injections, stem cells can potentially restore some vision by regenerating optic nerve cells, improving vision and the overall quality of life for ONH patients.

What is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia?

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) is a developmental condition where the optic nerve, responsible for relaying visual information from the eye to the brain, is underdeveloped. Unlike optic nerve atrophy, which involves degeneration, ONH results from incomplete development, typically occurring during prenatal development. This underdevelopment limits the number of optic nerve fibers, which can lead to partial or complete vision impairment. ONH can present alone or alongside other neurological or endocrine conditions.

Factors that may contribute to or exacerbate vision loss in ONH include:

• Prenatal Genetic Factors: Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities can play a role in the development of ONH, though the exact genetic causes are not fully understood.
• Maternal Health Conditions: Health conditions during pregnancy, including diabetes, infections, or substance exposure (such as alcohol or certain medications), have been linked to higher ONH incidence.
• Brain Abnormalities: ONH may occur with conditions like septo-optic dysplasia, in which the optic nerve and parts of the brain, such as the pituitary gland, are underdeveloped.
• Other Developmental Disorders: ONH can coincide with other conditions that impact vision or neurological function, leading to a complex clinical picture in affected individuals.

Common Symptoms of ONH

• Reduced visual acuity
• Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
• Diminished peripheral vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Depth perception difficulties

Possible Improvements after Stem Cell Therapy for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)

How Stem Cell Therapy Improves Symptoms of Retinal or Optic Nerve Disorders

Stem cells are “pluripotent,” meaning they can differentiate into all other cells due to their self-renewing abilities. They can develop into ectodermal (ex., skin, and some neurological structures), mesodermal (ex., bones, cartilage, and blood cells), or endodermal cells (ex., cells of internal body organs).

Therefore, injecting stem cells – from a donor – should theoretically allow them to differentiate and “replace” the damaged retina or optic nerve seen in different ophthalmological disorders. Stem cell therapy has provided new hope in curing or at least improving the sight-related symptoms associated with retinal or optic degeneration in order to provide patients with a better quality of life.

Following the testing of stem cell treatment on people with retinal and/or optic nerve atrophy, in addition to their self-renewing abilities, stem cells have proven to have additional benefits other than tissue replacement.

• Replacing and repairing the damaged optic cells: As mentioned, this is their original function: to replace the damaged tissue – i.e., retinal cells in case of retinal damage and optic neurons in case of optic nerve atrophy – through the conversion of one cell type to another.
• Increasing the production of neurotrophic factors that promote nervous cell proliferation and differentiation (ex. glia-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)). These factors can locally enhance cellular recruitment, proliferation, and maturation within the damaged or affected retinal/optic nerve neurons.
• Modulating the immune system and the ongoing inflammatory process: Stem cells produce different antioxidants, thereby reducing the neurodestructive and atrophic process characterizing retinal degeneration and optic nerve atrophy.
• Preventing cell death: Through releasing substances that can inhibit the process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of the damaged cells until they are adequately repaired by stem cells.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy in Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)

Studies testing stem cell therapy in people with retinal and/or optic nerve disorders have reported that the use of stem cell therapy in affected infants has shown improvement in (8):

• Visual acuity
• Light perception
• Color perception
• Depth perception
• Visual field
• Night vision

Improvement rates following stem cell transplantation reach as high as 83%; with improvement being seen in both eyes simultaneously. These results could be seen as miraculous in such optic disorders with otherwise irreversible neurological damage.

Our Treatment Program in Details

Our stem cell treatment protocols have been meticulously developed with the understanding that a comprehensive approach is essential for patients to fully benefit from stem cell therapy. We believe that combining stem cells with various therapeutic techniques enhances the body’s regenerative response. To maximize effectiveness, we provide substantial quantities of stem cells tailored to each patient’s specific condition for optimal regenerative potential.

Our treatment for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) involves 6 to 8 minimally invasive injections of stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue. These stem cells are administered through two or three different methods: intravenously via a standard IV drip, intrathecal injection, and, for patients over the age of 10, potentially two retrobulbar injections to more precisely target the optic nerves.* Together, these methods enhance treatment efficacy while ensuring patient safety and comfort.

A Note from our Program Director

At Beike Cell Therapy, we offer stem cell therapy for a wide range of conditions, but we create dedicated treatment pages only when:

• Sufficient scientific evidence indicates a high likelihood of positive outcomes.
• Our own case studies show promising results with the treatment.

Historically, research and demand have focused more on Optic Nerve Atrophy than on Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. While we have provided treatment for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia upon request, we previously lacked enough data to demonstrate effectiveness and justify a dedicated treatment page. The international medical community has also been slower to explore stem cell therapy for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia compared to Optic Nerve Atrophy.

However, after performing over 100 stem cell treatments for Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, we are now proud to officially offer this treatment on our site.

For more information, please contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.How many stem cell treatments have been conducted for ONH?

A.

Beike Cell Therapy has conducted over 100 treatments for ONH with positive patient feedback.

Q.How is the stem cell treatment administered?

A.

Treatment typically involves 6-8 injections using intravenous, intrathecal, and sometimes retrobulbar methods, tailored to each patient’s condition.

Q.Are there any eligibility requirements for retrobulbar injections?

A.

Yes, retrobulbar injections are usually for patients over 10 years old and are based on doctor assessment.

Q.How long does the stem cell treatment process take?

A.

The treatment program spans 15 to 23 days, including injections, daily therapy, and nutritional support.

Q.What percentage of patients have seen improvements?

A.

A survey showed that 80% of patients reported some level of improvement in symptoms and quality of life.

Q.Can stem cell therapy cure ONH?

A.

While it cannot cure ONH, stem cell therapy has shown potential to improve symptoms and may support better visual function and quality of life.

Q.What is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)?

A.

ONH is a congenital condition where the optic nerve is underdeveloped, often resulting in vision impairment or blindness.

Q.How does stem cell therapy work for ONH?

A.

Stem cells may help by regenerating or supporting underdeveloped optic nerve cells, potentially improving vision and other symptoms.

Q.Is stem cell treatment effective for ONH?

A.

Studies and patient feedback show promising results, with many patients experiencing improvement in visual functions and quality of life.

Q.What types of improvements have patients experienced?

A.

Patients report enhanced light perception, reduced nystagmus, and improvements in visual acuity and peripheral vision.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Dina Mohyeldeen

Physician & Medical Researcher

Dr. Dina M. is a physician with particular interest in researching advancements in treating different incurable conditions. Her fields of interest include cancers, neurological, and psychiatric conditions given their difficult diagnoses and ever-evolving treatment modalities.

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Medical References

1. 1.Labrador-Velandia S, Alonso-Alonso ML, Alvarez-Sanchez S, González-Zamora J, Carretero-Barrio I, Pastor JC, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in retinal and optic nerve diseases: An update of clinical trials. World Journal of Stem Cells. 2016;8(11):376-83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5120242/
2. 2.Weiss JN, Levy S. Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS): bone marrow derived stem cells in the treatment of Dominant Optic Atrophy. Stem Cell Investigation. 2019;6:41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6987313/
3. 3.Mead B, Berry M, Logan A, Scott RA, Leadbeater W, Scheven BA. Stem cell treatment of degenerative eye disease. Stem Cell Research. 2015;14(3):243-57. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4434205/
4. 4.Coco-Martin RM, Pastor-Idoate S, Pastor JC. Cell Replacement Therapy for Retinal and Optic Nerve Diseases: Cell Sources, Clinical Trials and Challenges. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(6). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8230855/
5. 5.Ahmad SS, Kanukollu VM. Optic Atrophy. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559130/
6. 6.Ludwig PE, Freeman SC, Janot AC. Novel stem cell and gene therapy in diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. International Journal of Retina and Vitreous. 2019;5(1):7. https://journalretinavitreous.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40942-019-0158-y
7. 7.Luo X, He L, Li J, Cheng H. The role of stem cell therapy in optic nerve regeneration: Current perspectives. Neuroscience Letters. 2020;735:135213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135213
8. 8.Lamba DA, Karl MO, Ware CB, Reh TA. Efficient generation of retinal progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells. PNAS. 2006;103(34):12769-74. https://www.pnas.org/content/103/34/12769
9. 9.Johnson TV, Bull ND, Martin KR. Identification of barriers to retinal engraftment of transplanted stem cells. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2010;51(2):960-70. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2126415
10. 10.Traboulsi EI, Iacovelli J, Weh E, Fine HF. Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and Septo-Optic Dysplasia. In: Traboulsi EI, editor. Genetic Diseases of the Eye. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press; 2012. p. 571-82. https://oxfordmedicine.com/view/10.1093/med/9780195326147.001.0001/med-9780195326147