23 January 2026
Scientists from the University of Southern California’s Roski Eye Institute are launching a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of a tiny patch that aims to preserve vision in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The device, which is thinner than a strand of hair, uses stem cells to replace damaged retinal cells.
An early study with a small group of patients found that the implant was safe, remained positioned securely in the eye and was absorbed into retinal tissue. Around one in four (27%) patients experienced some level of vision improvement.
Dr Sun Young Lee, a retinal surgeon with Keck Medicine, highlighted that the research aims to determine whether the implant is capable of not only slowing degeneration in patients with dry AMD but also improving vision.
“The earlier phase of the clinical trial showed the treatment to be safe with the potential to benefit patients' vision; this next phase will investigate whether the therapy can achieve clinically significant improvements in vision,” he said.
Keck Medicine is one of five sites within the US that will be involved in the upcoming clinical trial. Researchers aim to recruit 24 patients between the ages of 55 and 90 who have advanced dry AMD.
Dr Mark Humayun, of the Roski Eye Institute, shared that the institution is committed to furthering innovative treatments that have the potential to improve lives by restoring vision.
“Stem cell-derived retinal implants may offer one of the greatest possibilities for helping patients with dry age-related macular degeneration and one day, may offer a cure,” he said.
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