The efficiency of stem cell therapy questioned in pediatric optic nerve hypoplasia

A study from Children`s Hospital Los Angeles didn`t come with any proof that stem cell therapy would be efficient in children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). The results of this research are published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). Even if there`s only less information about the safety and efficiency of stem cell therapy in the US and Europe, families are taking their children with vision problems to China, in order to perform the therapy. Mark Borchert, MD, Director of both the Eye Birth defects and Eye Technology Institutes in The Vision Center at Children`s Hospital Los Angeles talks about this therapy. The lead author of this study is Cassandra Fink, MPH, program administrator at The Vision Center, Children`s Hospital, Los Angeles. “This study underscores the importance f scientifically testing these procedures to validate them and also to ensure their safety. This study takes a step forward testing this technology and finds no beneficial effect”, said William V. Good, MD, Senior Associate Editor at the Journal of AAPOS and Senior Scientist at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.