ABSTRACT:   

   Background: Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, had posed significant challenges to vision restoration, with limited treatment options available. Recent advancements in stem cell therapy had provided a promising avenue for retinal repair and functional recovery by replenishing damaged photoreceptors and supporting retinal integrity.   However, the long-term efficacy and safety of such interventions required careful evaluation. Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and long-term safety of stem cell therapy in patients with retinal degenerative diseases.   

Methods: This prospective study was carried out at Avicenna Medical and Dental College, Lahore, over a period of one year from June 2024 to May 2025. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with retinal degenerative diseases were included. Participants received intravitreal or subretinal stem cell-based therapies and were monitored through standardized ophthalmologic examinations, including visual acuity tests, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electroretinography. Follow-up was performed at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months to assess functional and structural retinal outcomes, as well as adverse effects. Data were analyzed to determine improvements in visual parameters and the incidence of complications.   Results: The findings indicated that 65% of patients demonstrated measurable improvement in visual acuity, while 20% showed stabilization of disease progression. OCT imaging revealed enhanced retinal structural integrity in 58% of participants. Electroretinography responses showed functional gains in 40% of cases. The therapy was generally well tolerated, with mild adverse effects such as transient intraocular inflammation reported in 10% of patients, while no severe or vision-threatening complications were observed throughout the follow-up period.   

Conclusion: Stem cell therapy had shown considerable efficacy in improving visual outcomes and preserving retinal structure in patients with degenerative retinal diseases. Moreover, the treatment appeared to be safe in the long term, with minimal adverse effects. These results highlighted stem cell therapy as a promising therapeutic strategy, warranting further large-scale studies for validation and optimization.   

Keywords: Stem cell therapy, retinal degenerative diseases, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, visual acuity, long-term safety.