Unique Access provides access to an extensive treatment protocol for Retinitis Pigmentosa which utilises higher quantities of stem cells, innovative stem cell growth factors, extensive rehabilitation, and many supportive therapies and supplements. This effective combination of the most advanced medical technologies with functional medicine has helped patients achieve significant improvements.
Why Stem Cells Work for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
The field of stem cell-based therapy holds great potential for the treatment of Retinal Degenerative disease.
Many studies suggest that stem cells such as Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Stem Cells (UCB-SC), Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Ucmsc) and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Bm-Msc) have the capacity to regenerate lost photoreceptors and retinal neurons and improve vision.
Mechanisms
The following is the possible mechanism of action of retinal cells recovery.
Stem Cells secrete neurotrophic factors such as BDNF, GDNF which may promote differentiation of grafted cells into neural and retinal ganglion cells, inhibit apoptosis, improve angiogenesis, suppress inflammatory stimuli and promote grafted cell survival.
Stem Cells promote cellular differentiation and provide an early response against the injury, ischemia and degeneration.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells also have paracrine effects which increase angiogenesis, decrease inflammation, have anti-apoptotic and chemotactic signaling effects, promote beneficial remodeling of the extracellular matrix, promote activation of neighboring resident stem cells and retinal pigment epithelium repair.
Possible Improvements
Most patients with Retinal Dystrophies and related retinal conditions that Unique Access has helped receive innovative treatments, using umbilical cord derived adult stem cells have shown great improvements including increased visual acuity, improved visual field, improved light sensitivity and night vision.
Moreover, the disease progression has been significantly slower after stem cell treatment resulting in preserved vision for years.
Retinitis Pigmentosa patients treated with stem cells usually observe improvements in the following areas:
- Visual acuity
- Light perception
- Field of vision
- Night vision
- Colour vision
- Nystagmus
Our Promise
We believe that there is always hope and that patients deserve access to effective and safe treatments. We are independent with an in-house medical department. We combine internationally accredited hospitals, next generation treatments, unique products and services that are integrative and effective to ensure best possible treatment results.
Stem Cells
In terms of stem cells we will make sure that the patient will receive the correct and necessary stem cell type, quality, quantity and viability. Our exclusive research partner guarantee a stem cell viability of 95%, many injections have a staggering viability of 98-99%.
Supportive Therapies & Remedies
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (HBOT)
- Hemo Oxygen Therapy (HOT)
- IV Vitamin Drips
- Immune-Boosting Supplements (e.g. GcMAF)
Partner Hospital
The treatment will take place in an internationally accredited tertiary care hospital and not in a hotel or clinic. This is important for the patient’s safety and care as the patient will have access to all specialized departments & specialist doctors which will further increase the treatments efficiency.
What is the procedure of Retrobulbar Injection?
Step 1
The patient takes a lying position, and then 3% tincture of iodine and 75% alcohol are carefully applied to disinfect the skin from the lower eyelid margin to the lower orbital rim, respectively.
Step 2
A sharp-edged cannulated needle is inserted vertically 2 millimeters in the quadrant between the outside 1/3 inside 2/3 the lower orbital rim (if the injection is done from conjunctival sac site, the lower eyelid is pulled open before injection and then the needle is inserted into the lower conjunctival sac at the same site).
Step 3
The needle is passed into the equator of the eye globe and then directed towards the upper nasal site until it is about 3 centimeters in depth.
The operator needs to push back the syringe to make sure there is no laceration of the blood vessels, withdrawing the stylet, leaving the plastic cannula in place, and then injecting the stem cell into the retrobulbar space.
Step 4
After the injection, the plastic cannula is gently removed and then the globe will be intermittently compressed with disinfected bandages for a couple of minutes to prevent hemorrhage. Eye pad will be applied for the next 24 hours to reduce irritation.
What are Retinal Degenerations and Other Related Disorders?
Retinal Degenerative (RD) diseases that target photoreceptors or adjacent Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) affect millions of people worldwide. Retinal Degenerative (RD) is found in many different forms such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Juvenile Macular Degeneration (also known as Stargardt’s Disease) and Leber’s Congenital Amau rosis (LCA).
Retinopathy of Prematurity, though, not a retinal degeneration, is another leading cause of blindness in premature infants.
Ways in Which The Conditions Affect The Body
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible, severe visual loss in developed countries. The natural history of dry AMD is progressive, with gradual loss of visual function that may span many years’ time.
Two types of AMD are known: dry and wet AMD. The dry or nonexudative form accounts for about 90% of all cases. In 10–15% of patients with dry AMD, the deterioration is more rapid and extensive and they suffer significant vision loss due to geographic atrophy. Wet AMD is characterised by Choroidal Neovascularisation (CNV) and is not very common.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a heritable group of blinding diseases resulting from the loss of photoreceptors, primarily rods and secondarily cones that mediate central vision. It is the most commonly inherited retinal degeneration worldwide and is characterised by pigment deposits predominantly in the peripheral retina and by a relative sparing of the central retina. The typical manifestations are present between adolescence and early adulthood and lead with a high probability of devastating visual loss.
Stargardt’s Disease is the most commonly inherited “juvenile” form of macular degeneration. Children typically begin experiencing central vision loss between 6 and 12 years of age. Although peripheral vision remains unaffected, individuals with Stargardt’s Disease usually experience rapid and severe central vision impairment.
Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is characterised by moderate -to-severe visual impairment identified at or within a few months after birth, infantile nystagmus, sluggish pupillary responses, and absent or poorly recordable electroretinographic responses early in life.
Retinopathy of prematurity, though not a Retinal Degenerative condition, directly affects the retina and results in retinal scarring and detachments, and is a leading cause of blindness in pre-term infants.
The Very Best Stem Cell Treatments via globalstemcells.com
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External Links
- Retinitis pigmentosa at DMOZ
- Eye Conditions (RNIB)
- Center for the Partially Sighted Low Vision Information and Resources
- GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Retinitis Pigmentosa Overview
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