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Free review of your eye recordsStem cell therapy for optic nerve atrophy and optic nerve hypoplasia
Lost optic nerve fibres cannot regrow on their own. Our medical team in Sofia reviews your OCT, MRI and eye reports and tells you honestly whether a regenerative program is reasonable for you, what it can and cannot do, and what it involves.
Before you decide
No stem cell therapy for optic nerve disease is approved by the EMA or FDA yet. Any clinic that promises restored vision is not being honest with you.
- Remote review before any travel
- Reply within a few working days
- Written plan with risks and costs
Optic nerve conditions our team reviews
Optic nerve atrophy is the end result of damage to the retinal ganglion cells and their fibres. The cause matters, because it shapes what is realistic.
Glaucoma-related optic atrophy
Damage after long-standing or advanced glaucoma, with stable eye pressure under treatment.
After ischemic optic neuropathy
Optic atrophy following NAION or AION, once the acute phase is over.
After optic neuritis
Including optic nerve damage in multiple sclerosis.
Hereditary optic neuropathies
Such as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and dominant optic atrophy.
Traumatic or compressive damage
After injury, tumour or compression, once the cause has been treated.
Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH)
Underdevelopment of the optic nerve from birth, reviewed together with paediatric findings.
Honest evidence, in plain language
Neuroprotection is the main approach today. Mesenchymal stem cells release growth factors and signalling molecules that may help protect surviving retinal ganglion cells and reduce inflammation. Most clinical studies follow this route.
Cell replacement is still in the laboratory. Growing new retinal ganglion cells from iPSCs and connecting them to the brain is promising research, not routine treatment.
Early clinical results are mixed. Small studies, such as the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS, NCT01920867), reported improvement in some patients, but most studies were small and uncontrolled.
Method and laboratory matter. Poorly controlled eye injections at unregulated clinics have caused severe vision loss (Kuriyan et al., N Engl J Med 2017).
Questions to ask any clinic
- Where do the cells come from, and in which laboratory are they produced and tested?
- How are the cells given, and why was this route chosen for the eye?
- Is the program based on published research or part of a registered clinical study?
- Which eye examinations are done before and after, and for how long?
- What happens if there is no improvement or a side effect occurs?
We answer all five in writing before you decide.
From your reports to a clear answer
Send your records
OCT, visual field, MRI, VEP and your latest eye report, by WhatsApp or the form.
FreeMedical review
Our team checks the cause, stability and remaining nerve function, and whether another option is better.
Honest answerWritten plan
What may be possible, what is not, the risks, timeline and costs, before any commitment.
No obligationTreatment & follow-up
If you go ahead: coordinated care in Sofia, then online follow-up with repeat eye tests.
Sofia, BulgariaRecords that help us review your case
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Questions patients ask us
Is stem cell therapy for optic nerve atrophy approved in the EU or the US?
No. There is currently no stem cell therapy for optic nerve atrophy or optic nerve hypoplasia approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the US FDA. Programs are offered within research settings or as individual treatment programs, which is why an honest medical assessment comes first.
Can stem cells restore lost vision?
Full restoration of lost vision should not be promised. Current regenerative approaches mainly aim to protect remaining vision and support surviving nerve cells. Some small studies have reported modest improvements in some patients, but results vary and depend on the cause, duration and severity of the damage.
Can children with optic nerve hypoplasia be assessed?
Yes, we review records for children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Research in children is limited, so any decision requires careful review, including paediatric ophthalmology and endocrinology findings, because ONH is often linked to hormonal and brain development issues.
Which records do you need?
Ideally a recent ophthalmology report, OCT of the optic nerve and retina, a visual field test, MRI of the brain and orbits, VEP if available, and a list of current medication. Send what you have; we will tell you if anything important is missing.
How long does the review take and what does it cost?
The review of your records is free and without obligation. We usually reply to a complete set of records within a few working days.
Do I need to travel before I know whether treatment makes sense?
No. Your records are reviewed remotely first. Travel to Sofia is only discussed if our medical team believes a program is reasonable for your situation and you decide to go ahead.
Send your eye reports for a free review
Our medical team reviews your OCT, MRI and visual field results and replies personally, free of charge and without obligation.
Helpful: diagnosis, recent scans (MRI, CT, OCT), lab results and current medication.