Stargardt disease does not have a cure, but laser treatment may help seal leaky blood vessels and low vision aids can provide some independence to those living with Stargardt.

The Stargardt Disease Patient Study (ProgStar) is a multicenter observational trial studying the progression of atrophic lesions among Stargardt disease patients across nine medical centers in North America and Europe.

Stem Cell Therapy

Researchers recently conducted a groundbreaking study, in which human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) were shown to significantly improve vision among those suffering from Stargardt disease. This achievement marks an important step forward toward treating macular degeneration and retinal diseases altogether.

Researchers used human embryonic stem cell (hESCs) stem cells to produce retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which were then transplanted into patients suffering from Stargardt disease and experienced significant improvements in visual acuity after only one session of therapy – much faster and less invasive than existing treatments available today.

However, not everyone may be eligible for treatment; RGCs can be difficult to produce due to expensive materials necessary for production. Researchers hope that using mesenchymal stem cells might lower costs while increasing efficiency during their procedures.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be found in various places throughout the body, such as adipose tissue, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and tissue, liver, dental pulp and skin. Mesenchymal cells have both immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects; additionally they can differentiate into specific cells to provide support to different organs or tissues.

These specialized cells can assist in the healing process following an injury, helping reduce scarring and fibrosis while stimulating new ligament or tendon cells to repair damaged structures. Furthermore, they serve as a natural source of growth factors to speed the process.

Stem cell therapy has been successfully used to treat numerous medical conditions, including osteoarthritis and spinal injuries. This non-invasive alternative to surgery typically requires local anesthesia or sedation for procedure; there are no known adverse side effects from its use.

Not all commercial stem cell clinics are created equal, however. Some of them have been accused of performing procedures not approved by the Food and Drug Administration that put patients’ health at risk – for example injecting stem cells directly into patients’ eyes without proper FDA clearance.

No matter the outcome of this recent study, patients considering stem cell therapy should first consult their doctor. It is also vital to inform them if you have any allergies to medications, anesthesia or latex and to provide any details of supplements you might take that might interfere with its efficacy.

Injection Therapy

Stargardt disease is an inherited eye condition that affects the macula, the small area in the center of each retina that provides sharp and clear vision when viewing straight lines, color perception and depth perception. Over time this genetic disorder causes central vision to slowly deteriorate over time – usually beginning during childhood or adolescence and ultimately leading to legal blindness for adults.

Stargardt disease is caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene and results in lipofuscin deposits accumulating in the retina, damaging photoreceptors and ultimately leading to vision impairment and loss. Most often it affects both eyes equally though some cases may be more severe. Stargardt is passed down autosomally recessively; an individual must inherit two copies of each parent’s defective ABCA4 gene to experience symptoms; those inheriting only one copy are considered carriers and do not experience symptoms but may pass the genetic mutation on further through generations.

Recent advances in research may lead to a cure for Stargardt disease. One promising treatment consists of using a peripheral neuromodulator drug that inhibits nerves’ transmission of pain signals; such a medication blocks receptors within nerves that transmit pain signals into the brain.

Studies have also investigated using echothiophate iodide to treat Stargardt disease, by binding to acetylcholinesterase enzyme in retina and increasing endogenous levels of acetylcholine. An increase in endogenous levels then causes photoreceptors and ganglion cells to resume function restoring central and color vision.

Other treatments for Stargardt disease may include wearing prescription sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when going outdoors, in order to protect eyes from UV light that could contribute to its progression. Furthermore, protecting eyes from ultraviolet radiation exposure is equally as essential.

Laser Treatment

Stargardt disease is the most frequently encountered form of juvenile macular degeneration (JMD), and results in central vision loss and gradual changes to color perception. It typically begins during childhood or adolescence and affects the macula – the part of retina responsible for clear straight-ahead vision; symptoms include blurry or wavy vision, blind spots and difficulty seeing in low light; it could potentially lead to legal blindness by 40.

Preventing Stargardt disease involves eating healthily, wearing UV protective sunglasses, and restricting dietary supplements containing too much Vitamin A. You should also seek genetic counseling to understand more about its inheritance pattern and risk of passing it along to future generations.

Stargardt disease symptoms are difficult to identify, making it easy for you to be unaware that your vision has begun deteriorating until it’s too late. When you have difficulty with recognising faces, reading, or driving it’s time to visit an eye doctor who can conduct a comprehensive eye exam designed to detect Stargardt symptoms such as visual acuity checks as well as looking for signs of fatty buildup under your retina or ineffective cones in the macula region of the retina.

Medication that increases levels of acetylcholine can reverse the effects of Stargardt disease. Cholinergic medications have long been used to treat glaucoma and strabismus, but they may also help patients suffering from Stargardt. One Stargardt disease patient experienced improvement after taking echothiophate iodide topical medication; its main function is blocking enzyme acetylcholinesterase so more natural acetylcholine can become available resulting in improved vision quality of life.

Low Vision Aids

Stargardt eye disease is a genetic disorder that attacks the macula of the retina, leading to central vision loss in the form of blind spots and visual distortion, eventually leading to total blindness. Symptoms often develop early in childhood or adolescence as yellowish-white pigment builds up within the macula, impairing central vision while impairing color perception – eventually the patient may have difficulty reading or driving due to these difficulties.

Low vision aids may provide patients with Stargardt disease with enough independence to live independent lives. Electronic magnifiers can be used for reading computer screens and reading text/images easily on computers; there’s even software designed to increase text and images sizes on computer screens so it is easier for readers. Specialized equipment enables these people to stay in touch with family, friends and jobs.

Tinted lenses, commonly prescribed alongside UV protective hats, visors and sunglasses to reduce glare and improve visual clarity are other low vision aids available to improve vision. Furthermore, tinted lenses may assist with driving as well as gathering information from television screens, computer monitors or mobile phone displays.

Stargardt eye disease can best be managed through prevention. Eating well, rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin may slow its rate of decline while wearing UV protective sunglasses and avoiding sun exposure may further delay macula degeneration.

Though there is no cure for Stargardt disease at present, recent research indicates that topical cholinergic agents could help slow its progress. An observational study with 168 new Stargardt disease patients demonstrated this with low dose echothiophate iodide leading to early and sustained gains in visual acuity and color vision for those who were legally blind.