Concise Review: Using Stem Cells to Prevent the Progression of Myopia—A Concept

Abstract

The prevalence of myopia has increased in modern society due to the educational load of children. This condition is growing rapidly, especially in Asian countries where it has already reached a pandemic level. Typically, the younger the child’s age at the onset of myopia, the more rapidly the condition will progress and the greater the likelihood that it will develop the known sight-threatening complications of high myopia. This rise in incidence of severe myopia has contributed to an increased frequency of eye diseases in adulthood, which often complicate therapeutic procedures. Currently, no treatment is available to prevent myopia progression. Stem cell therapy can potentially address two components of myopia. Regardless of the exact etiology, myopia is always associated with scleral weakness. In this context, a strategy aimed at scleral reinforcement by transplanting connective tissue-supportive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an attractive approach that could yield effective and universal therapy. Sunlight exposure appears to have a protective effect against myopia. It is postulated that this effect is mediated via local ocular production of dopamine. With a variety of dopamine-producing cells already available for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, stem cells engineered for dopamine production could be utilized for the treatment of myopia. In this review, we further explore these concepts and present evidence from the literature to support the use of stem cell therapy for the treatment of myopia.

Rasgrf1 mRNA expression in myopic eyes of guinea pigs

“…As local injections to the eyes cannot be performed on a daily basis, it is expected that such injections would be administered as depot formulations. Recently, a concept for the treatment of myopia with stem cells has been described and stem cells could also be engineered to produce Rasgrf1‐modifying compounds, including miRNA or antibodies.…”

Scleral remodelling in myopia and its manipulation: a review of recent advances in scleral strengthening and myopia control

“…Another possible myopia management strategy that has been proposed in theoretical terms is the use of stem cell delivery to the sub-scleral space (75). It has been hypothesised that these implanted stem cells might be coaxed into fibroblasts to enhance scleral collagen production, or to act on dopaminergic pathways to modulate myopia development.…”

Myopia. Part II – prevention and treatment of the latest guidelines

“…Podejmuje się próby podawania komórek macierzystych do przestrzeni podtwardówkowej między tkankami twardówki a naczyniówki. Jankowski wysunął hipotezę, że działanie tej terapii może być dwukierunkowe -po pierwsze wpływa na włączenie komórek mezenchymalnych do twardówki, poprawiając jej uszkodzoną strukturę, po drugie -dochodzi do zwiększonego wydzielania dopaminy, to bezpośrednio spowalnia wzrost gałki ocznej (34).…”