{"id":1789,"date":"2026-10-20T08:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/stem-cell-eye-treatment-turkey\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:56:09","slug":"stem-cell-eye-treatment-turkey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/stem-cell-eye-treatment-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Stem cell eye treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Hero (Photo + summary card) Start -->\n<section class=\"page-hero\" id=\"top\">\n\t<div class=\"phero-inner pad with-media container-fluid\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"phero-left col-12 col-lg-7\">\n\t\t\t<div data-hero-in><ol class=\"crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/\">Home: eye surgery in Istanbul<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/treatments\/\">All eye treatments<\/a><\/li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Stem cell eye treatment<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t<h1 class=\"t64 hero-title phero-title\" data-lines>Stem Cell Eye Treatment in Turkey: Limbal Stem Cell Transplant and What Is Still Experimental<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 phero-lead\" data-hero-in>Stem cell eye treatment is real for one group of patients: people whose cornea has lost the stem cells that keep its surface clear, usually after a chemical or heat burn. For them, a limbal stem cell transplant can rebuild the surface of the eye. At Laser Istanbul Clinic it is planned and performed by cornea specialist <strong>Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer<\/strong>. Stem cell treatments for macular degeneration, glaucoma and the optic nerve are still being tested in clinical trials, and this page tells you plainly where the line is.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"phero-ctas\" data-hero-in><a class=\"pill pill-white\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/free-consultation\/\"><span class=\"pill-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"pill-label\">Send your eye reports for a free review<\/span><\/a><a class=\"pill pill-line\" href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/4915783739465?text=Hello%20Laser%20Istanbul%20Clinic%2C%20I%20would%20like%20some%20information%20about%20eye%20treatment.%20Sent%20from%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Flaseristanbulclinic.com%2Fen%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"pill-dot\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"pill-label\">WhatsApp us: +49 157 8373 9465<\/span><\/a><\/div><ul class=\"phero-meta\" data-hero-in><li><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg>Medically reviewed by <span class=\"ph\">{{surgeon}}<\/span> \u00b7 Last reviewed <span class=\"ph\">{{date}}<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"phero-right has-media col-12 col-lg-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"phero-media\" data-hero-in><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"880\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/keratoconus-corneal-treatment.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Close-up of a cornea during corneal treatment\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/keratoconus-corneal-treatment.webp 590w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/keratoconus-corneal-treatment-201x300.webp 201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inshort\" data-hero-in><p>The only stem cell therapy for eyes with long-term evidence is limbal stem cell transplantation, which restores a damaged corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). In a 2020 systematic review of 1,023 eyes, the surface was successfully restored in 69% overall, and in 78\u201381% with the SLET and CLAU techniques. Stem cells for the retina and optic nerve remain experimental. In Istanbul, Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer treats LSCD from <span class=\"ph\">{{\u00a3 price}}<\/span> per eye; hotel and transfers are extra.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<!-- Hero (Photo + summary card) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel dark\" id=\"what-are-eye-stem-cells\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>What are eye stem cells?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><p data-reveal>Eye stem cells are cells that can divide and replace tissue that wears out or is damaged. The best understood are the <strong>limbal stem cells<\/strong>. They sit in the limbus, the narrow ring where the clear cornea meets the white of the eye, in small pigmented pockets called the palisades of Vogt (EyeWiki, American Academy of Ophthalmology). Every day they produce new cells for the corneal surface, keep it smooth and clear, heal scratches and act as a barrier that stops the white, blood-vessel-rich conjunctiva from growing over the cornea.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal>The retina is different. Adult human retinas cannot replace lost light-sensing cells or the nerve cells that form the optic nerve. That is why corneal surface stem cell treatment works today, while retinal and optic-nerve stem cell treatment is still a research question.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Stem cell eye treatment<\/strong> therefore means two very different things:<\/p><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\"><\/th><th scope=\"col\">Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Stem cells for retina and optic nerve<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">What it treats<\/th><td data-label=\"Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)\">Limbal stem cell deficiency: a damaged corneal surface, often after a chemical or heat burn<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells for retina and optic nerve\">Macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, glaucoma, optic nerve damage<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Evidence<\/th><td data-label=\"Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)\">Decades of case series; a technique first described in 1989 (CLAU); systematic reviews of over 1,000 eyes<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells for retina and optic nerve\">Small early-phase trials, mostly testing safety in a few to a few dozen patients<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Approved anywhere?<\/th><td data-label=\"Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)\">Yes: a cultivated limbal stem cell product (Holoclar) has been authorised in the EU since February 2015; NICE recommended it for NHS use in 2017<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells for retina and optic nerve\">The American Academy of Ophthalmology states there are no FDA-approved stem cell products for eye disease<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Where to get it<\/th><td data-label=\"Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)\">Specialist cornea surgeons<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells for retina and optic nerve\">Only inside registered clinical trials<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Offered by us?<\/th><td data-label=\"Limbal stem cell transplant (cornea)\"><strong>Yes<\/strong>, by Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells for retina and optic nerve\"><strong>No.<\/strong> We assess your retina and tell you about proven treatments<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"who-a-limbal-stem-cell-transplant-suits\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"intro-grid row\"><div class=\"intro-side col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Who a limbal stem cell transplant suits<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"copy prose col-12\"><p data-reveal>A limbal stem cell transplant suits people whose limbal stem cells have been destroyed or have stopped working, so the cornea can no longer renew its surface. This is called limbal stem cell deficiency. In severe cases, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says it can lead to functional corneal blindness.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Common causes of LSCD<\/strong> (EyeWiki and AAO EyeNet):<\/p>\n<ul data-reveal>\n<li>chemical burns (alkali or acid) and heat burns to the eye; ocular burns were the reason for surgery in 88% of eyes in the 2020 systematic review<\/li>\n<li>previous eye surgery near the limbus and the anti-scarring drug mitomycin C, which the AAO names as leading causes in the US<\/li>\n<li>long-term overwear of contact lenses<\/li>\n<li>inherited conditions such as aniridia (a PAX6 gene mutation)<\/li>\n<li>immune diseases such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and mucous membrane pemphigoid<\/li>\n<li>radiation, eye-surface cancers, trachoma, herpes infection of the cornea and large pterygia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Signs your surgeon looks for:<\/strong> pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity and contact-lens intolerance; a hazy, uneven surface creeping in from the edge of the cornea; blood vessels growing onto the cornea; and surface wounds that will not heal.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>How LSCD is confirmed.<\/strong> Diagnosis is made by examination with special dye (fluorescein), supported by anterior segment OCT imaging and, where available, in vivo confocal microscopy or impression cytology, a painless test that looks for conjunctival cells on the cornea (EyeWiki). The 2019 global consensus grades LSCD in three stages: stage I spares the central 5 mm of the cornea, stage II reaches the centre, and stage III covers the whole surface.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Not every eye with LSCD needs a transplant.<\/strong> Partial, mild LSCD is treated first with medicines: stopping contact lenses, preservative-free lubricants, short courses of steroid drops, cyclosporine drops and, sometimes, a bandage or scleral lens. Surgery is reserved for total LSCD, or partial LSCD that does not respond (EyeWiki).<\/p><div class=\"list-card\" data-reveal><h3>A transplant is usually not the right next step if:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list\"><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>your burn is recent: an acute chemical burn is an emergency that needs immediate, plentiful rinsing with water and urgent eye care, and transplantation is planned once the eye has settled<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>there is severe scarring between the eyelid and the eye (symblepharon), which was linked with failure in the largest SLET study, or other eyelid and tear-film problems that your surgeon wants treated first<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>the poor vision comes from somewhere else, such as cataract, glaucoma or retinal damage, which your surgeon checks with a full examination<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"types-of-limbal-stem-cell-transplant\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Types of limbal stem cell transplant<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>There are five main ways to replace limbal stem cells, and the choice depends mainly on one question: is one eye affected, or both?<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Technique<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Where the stem cells come from<\/th><th scope=\"col\">How much healthy tissue is taken<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Immune-suppressing medicine needed?<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Best for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\"><strong>CLAU<\/strong> (conjunctival limbal autograft, since 1989)<\/th><td data-label=\"Where the stem cells come from\">Your healthy other eye<\/td><td data-label=\"How much healthy tissue is taken\">Large pieces, up to 50% of the donor limbus (AAO)<\/td><td data-label=\"Immune-suppressing medicine needed?\">No<\/td><td data-label=\"Best for\">One eye affected<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\"><strong>SLET<\/strong> (simple limbal epithelial transplantation, since 2012)<\/th><td data-label=\"Where the stem cells come from\">Your healthy other eye<\/td><td data-label=\"How much healthy tissue is taken\">A tiny strip, 1\u20132 clock hours, cut into small pieces and glued onto amniotic membrane<\/td><td data-label=\"Immune-suppressing medicine needed?\">No<\/td><td data-label=\"Best for\">One eye affected; no cell laboratory needed<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\"><strong>CLET<\/strong> (cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation, e.g. Holoclar)<\/th><td data-label=\"Where the stem cells come from\">Your healthy other eye, grown in a laboratory<\/td><td data-label=\"How much healthy tissue is taken\">A small biopsy, expanded in culture for weeks<\/td><td data-label=\"Immune-suppressing medicine needed?\">No<\/td><td data-label=\"Best for\">One eye affected; needs a specialised cell laboratory<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\"><strong>Allogeneic limbal graft<\/strong> (KLAL, lr-CLAL)<\/th><td data-label=\"Where the stem cells come from\">A deceased donor or a living relative<\/td><td data-label=\"How much healthy tissue is taken\">None from you<\/td><td data-label=\"Immune-suppressing medicine needed?\">Yes, for a prolonged period<\/td><td data-label=\"Best for\">Both eyes affected<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\"><strong>COMET \/ SOMET<\/strong> (oral mucosal grafts)<\/th><td data-label=\"Where the stem cells come from\">The lining of your own cheek<\/td><td data-label=\"How much healthy tissue is taken\">A small piece of mouth lining<\/td><td data-label=\"Immune-suppressing medicine needed?\">No<\/td><td data-label=\"Best for\">Both eyes affected, where donor tissue is unsuitable<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal><strong>SLET<\/strong> has become a leading option when one eye is affected, because it needs only a tiny piece of tissue and no laboratory. In the original long-term study of 125 patients, a 1-clock-hour biopsy was taken from the healthy eye and, in the same operation, transplanted in small pieces on an amniotic membrane scaffold with fibrin glue. Its authors concluded that SLET is probably preferable to other limbal stem cell transplant techniques, particularly where cell cultivation facilities are unavailable.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>CLET and the new CALEC method.<\/strong> Growing the patient&#8217;s cells in a laboratory first means only a very small biopsy is needed. Holoclar was authorised in the EU in February 2015 for adults with moderate to severe LSCD after physical or chemical burns, and moved from conditional to full (standard) authorisation in February 2024. In the US, a laboratory-grown method called CALEC reported its phase I\/II results in <em>Nature Communications<\/em> in 2025: grafts could be made for 14 of 15 participants (93%), and 92% of grafts achieved complete or partial success at 18 months. The authors say further studies are needed to confirm how well it works.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>When both eyes are affected<\/strong>, there is no healthy eye to borrow from. Donor limbal tissue then needs prolonged, sometimes lifelong, immune-suppressing medicine to stop rejection (EyeWiki), so these patients need careful general health checks and long-term follow-up close to home. An artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis) is a last resort that restores vision without treating the stem cell problem.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Technique we offer:<\/strong> <span class=\"ph\">{{limbal stem cell techniques Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer performs in Istanbul}}<\/span>, in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health\u2013licensed operating theatre in Istanbul.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel dark\" id=\"stem-cell-therapy-success-rate-for-eyes\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Stem cell therapy success rate for eyes<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>The stem cell therapy success rate for limbal stem cell transplant is about 7 in 10 eyes overall, and close to 8 in 10 with the techniques most used today. &#8220;Success&#8221; in these studies means a stable, fully healed, clear corneal surface without blood vessels growing over it, not perfect vision.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Study<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Patients<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Success<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">Systematic review, <em>British Journal of Ophthalmology<\/em> 2020 (22 case series)<\/th><td data-label=\"Patients\">1,023 eyes<\/td><td data-label=\"Success\">69% anatomical success; 60% gained 2+ lines of vision (median follow-up 1.75 years)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">\u2014 by technique<\/th><td data-label=\"Patients\"><\/td><td data-label=\"Success\">CLAU 81%, SLET 78%, CLET 61%<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">SLET, <em>Ophthalmology<\/em> 2016<\/th><td data-label=\"Patients\">125 patients (65 adults, 60 children) after burns<\/td><td data-label=\"Success\">76% successful at median 1.5 years; 75% gained 2+ lines of vision<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Cultivated limbal stem cells, <em>New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> 2010<\/th><td data-label=\"Patients\">112 patients<\/td><td data-label=\"Success\">76.6% permanent restoration of a clear surface; follow-up up to 10 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">SLET, 5\u201312 years later, <em>American Journal of Ophthalmology<\/em> 2025<\/th><td data-label=\"Patients\">47 patients<\/td><td data-label=\"Success\">68% had a normal corneal surface on detailed imaging<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p data-reveal>Three points from this evidence matter for your decision:<\/p>\n<ul data-reveal>\n<li><strong>Failures usually happen early.<\/strong> In the 2010 NEJM study, the failures occurred within the first year, and eyes that healed stayed stable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Some injuries do worse.<\/strong> In the SLET study, acid burns, severe scarring between the eyelid and the eye (symblepharon) and combining SLET with a corneal transplant in the same operation were linked with failure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The healthy eye is safe in the published series.<\/strong> The 2020 review found no serious problems in the donor eye.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a dark panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"which-stem-cell-eye-treatments-are-still-experimental\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"intro-grid row\"><div class=\"intro-side col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Which stem cell eye treatments are still experimental?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"copy prose col-12\"><p data-reveal>Stem cell treatment for macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, glaucoma and optic nerve damage is still experimental in 2026. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises seeking it only through registered clinical trials and notes that insurers do not cover unapproved treatment.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>The stem cell patch for macular degeneration.<\/strong> In 2018, researchers in London reported a phase 1 study in which a patch of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, grown from embryonic stem cells on a thin synthetic membrane, was placed under the retina of two patients with severe wet AMD. Both read more letters on the eye chart 12 months later (29 and 21 letters). In the US, a similar stem-cell-derived RPE implant was given to 15 patients with advanced dry AMD (geographic atrophy); its long-term follow-up, published in 2024, was designed to test safety at a median of 3 years. In Japan in 2017, the first patient received a sheet of retinal cells grown from reprogrammed (iPS) cells made from her own skin; one year later the sheet was intact, but her vision had neither improved nor worsened. These are important steps, but they involve very small numbers of patients and are not treatments you can book.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>What about the cost of stem cell therapy for macular degeneration?<\/strong> There is no approved stem cell treatment for AMD to price. Genuine trials are registered and run by research centres, so ask for the registration number. The AAO&#8217;s advice is that clinics should not charge thousands of dollars for unproven therapy, and that insurers will not cover it. For wet AMD, proven treatment today is a course of injections into the eye.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Glaucoma and the optic nerve.<\/strong> A 2024 meta-analysis pooled seven small studies of mesenchymal stem cells for optic neuropathy, 66 eyes in total. Vision improved on average, but the nerve-fibre layer measured on OCT did not change, and the numbers are far too small to call it a treatment. We do not offer stem cell treatment for the optic nerve.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>What the FDA has approved for the eye.<\/strong> On the FDA&#8217;s list of approved cell and gene therapies (updated September 2026), the eye products are Luxturna, a gene therapy for an inherited retinal dystrophy, and Encelto, an implant of encapsulated cells that release a nerve-protecting protein, approved in March 2025 for macular telangiectasia type 2. Neither is a stem cell treatment.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>Zebrafish stem cells and the eye.<\/strong> Zebrafish can regrow a damaged retina: after injury, support cells called M\u00fcller glia are reprogrammed into stem-like cells that replace lost nerve cells, something the human retina cannot do. Scientists study zebrafish to learn which signals switch this repair on. It is laboratory stem cell research for the eye, not a zebrafish stem cell eye treatment that patients can receive.<\/p>\n<p data-reveal><strong>When unproven treatment goes wrong.<\/strong> In 2017, the <em>New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> described three women who lost vision in both eyes after a US clinic injected fat-derived &#8220;stem cells&#8221; into their eyes for macular degeneration. Before treatment their vision ranged from 20\/30 to 20\/200; one year later it ranged from 20\/200 to no light perception, after complications including retinal detachment and bleeding inside the eye. The FDA lists blindness, tumour formation and infection among the harms reported from unapproved regenerative treatments.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Heading (Intro: heading left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad split-sec\" id=\"how-to-spot-an-unproven-stem-cell-eye-clinic\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"split\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"split-media col-12 col-lg-6\" data-reveal><div class=\"media\" data-parallax><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/corneal-topography-map-819x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Corneal topography map\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 991px) 100vw, 50vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/corneal-topography-map-819x1024.webp 819w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/corneal-topography-map-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/corneal-topography-map-768x960.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/corneal-topography-map.webp 1200w\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"split-copy col-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>How to spot an unproven stem cell eye clinic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 lede\" data-reveal>A trustworthy stem cell eye treatment offer names the condition, the technique and the evidence. Be cautious if a clinic:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prose\" data-reveal><ul data-reveal>\n<li>offers stem cells for AMD, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, optic atrophy or &#8220;all eye diseases&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>injects cells from your fat, bone marrow or blood into the eye<\/li>\n<li>charges you to take part in a &#8220;study&#8221;, or cannot give you a clinical-trial registration number<\/li>\n<li>shows testimonials instead of published results<\/li>\n<li>treats both eyes on the same day with an experimental product<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-reveal>The AAO suggests three questions before any stem cell treatment: Is it approved? Is it part of a registered clinical trial? Will your health insurance cover it? If the answers are no, no and no, walk away.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Image + Text (Image left, text right) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"stem-cell-eye-treatment-in-turkey-price-and-what-is-included\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Stem cell eye treatment in Turkey: price and what is included<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal><strong>At Laser Istanbul Clinic, a limbal stem cell transplant starts from <span class=\"ph\">{{\u00a3 price}}<\/span> per eye.<\/strong> Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer confirms which technique suits you and your exact price in writing after reviewing your eye reports and photographs, before you book anything.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Treatment<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Typical published price<\/th><th scope=\"col\">With Laser Istanbul Clinic<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">Limbal stem cell transplant (SLET \/ CLAU), per eye<\/th><td data-label=\"Typical published price\">No reliable published UK or Istanbul ranges found<\/td><td data-label=\"With Laser Istanbul Clinic\">from <span class=\"ph\">{{\u00a3 price}}<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Corneal transplant, if needed later, per eye: Istanbul<\/th><td data-label=\"Typical published price\">about $4,000\u20137,000<\/td><td data-label=\"With Laser Istanbul Clinic\">quoted after examination<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Corneal transplant, per eye: UK private<\/th><td data-label=\"Typical published price\">about $8,000\u201314,000<\/td><td data-label=\"With Laser Istanbul Clinic\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Corneal transplant, per eye: USA<\/th><td data-label=\"Typical published price\">about $13,000\u201328,000<\/td><td data-label=\"With Laser Istanbul Clinic\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p class=\"note-sm\" data-reveal>Corneal transplant ranges are typical advertised prices from 2025\u201326, in US dollars, not quotes. Published Istanbul prices are often packages that include a hotel.<\/p><p data-reveal><strong>Stem cell eye treatment in the UK.<\/strong> In 2017, NICE recommended Holoclar as an NHS option for moderate to severe LSCD after eye burns, for one eye, in people who have already had a CLAU or for whom there is not enough healthy tissue for one. Ask your NHS cornea specialist whether you qualify. We found no reliable published price for private limbal stem cell transplant in the UK, so we do not quote a stem cell eye treatment cost for the UK here.<\/p><div class=\"list-card\" data-reveal><h3>Your treatment price includes:<\/h3><ul class=\"check-list\"><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>full pre-operative examination and scans with Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>the limbal stem cell transplant by your named surgeon<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>medication and eye drops for your recovery<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>follow-up checks in Istanbul with the same surgeon<\/span><\/li><li><svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span>a personal interpreter, a dedicated coordinator and remote follow-up after you return home<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><p data-reveal><strong>Not included:<\/strong> flights, hotel and airport transfers. Hotel and transfers are a separate charge, and we can arrange them for you on request. A later corneal transplant, if you need one, is quoted separately.<\/p><div class=\"links-row\" data-reveal><a class=\"link-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-surgery-packages\/\">Eye surgery packages: what&#039;s included (hotel and transfers extra) <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a tinted panel) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Team (Surgeon cards: 3 surgeons) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"your-stem-cell-eye-surgeons\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Your stem cell eye surgeons<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sg-grid row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\"><div class=\"col\"><a class=\"sg-card h-100\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/doctors\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer\/\" data-reveal><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"294\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer-cornea-specialist-istanbul-294x300.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer-cornea-specialist-istanbul-294x300.webp 294w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer-cornea-specialist-istanbul-768x784.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer-cornea-specialist-istanbul.webp 790w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 294px) 100vw, 294px\" \/><span class=\"sg-body\"><b>Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer<\/b><span class=\"sg-spec\">Cornea and keratoconus \u00b7 corneal transplant \u00b7 limbal stem cell transplant \u00b7 retina and uveitis \u00b7 ocular oncology \u00b7 cataract<\/span><span class=\"sg-bio\">&#8220;Do\u00e7.&#8221; is the Turkish title for an Associate Professor. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer trained in medicine and ophthalmology at Istanbul University&#8217;s Faculty of Medicine (specialist since 2016), holds the FICO qualification of the International Council of Ophthalmology (2020) and became an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology in 2021. He has 27 papers listed on PubMed and speaks Turkish and English. He leads every limbal stem cell case and reviews retina questions.<\/span><span class=\"sg-go\">Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer: cornea, keratoconus, retina &amp; uveitis surgeon <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"col\"><a class=\"sg-card h-100\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/doctors\/op-dr-aysan-bayram\/\" data-reveal><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-300x300.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul.webp 806w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><span class=\"sg-body\"><b>Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram<\/b><span class=\"sg-spec\">Cataract \u00b7 laser eye surgery \u00b7 retinal disease<\/span><span class=\"sg-bio\">An ophthalmology specialist since 1999, trained at Trakya University and Y\u00fcz\u00fcnc\u00fc Y\u0131l University. She speaks English, and patients who prefer a female surgeon can ask for her. If you asked about stem cells for macular degeneration, she can review your retinal scans and explain the proven treatments.<\/span><span class=\"sg-go\">Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram: cataract, laser &amp; retina surgeon <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"col\"><a class=\"sg-card h-100\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/doctors\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici\/\" data-reveal><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-300x300.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul.webp 806w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><span class=\"sg-body\"><b>Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131<\/b><span class=\"sg-spec\">Cataract and premium lens \u00b7 eyelid and oculoplastic surgery \u00b7 laser \u00b7 ICL \u00b7 squint \u00b7 glaucoma<\/span><span class=\"sg-bio\">An ophthalmology specialist since 1992 and former Professor and Head of Ophthalmology at Harran University, with 21 papers on PubMed. He joins the plan when burned or scarred eyelids need repair before a transplant, or when a cataract needs removing once the surface is stable.<\/span><span class=\"sg-go\">Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131: cataract, premium lens, laser &amp; eyelid surgeon <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-foot-flow prose\"><div class=\"links-row\" data-reveal><a class=\"link-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/doctors\/\">Meet all our eye surgeons <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Team (Surgeon cards: 3 surgeons) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Process (Step cards: 3 columns) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"your-limbal-stem-cell-transplant-journey-step-by-step\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\"><div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Your limbal stem cell transplant journey, step by step<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\t\t<ol class=\"steps row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Free online review<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Send your eye reports, the date and cause of the injury, any surgery you have had and clear photographs of both eyes. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer tells you whether a transplant is likely to help and sends a written quote within <span class=\"ph\">{{response time}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Plan your stay<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Plan <span class=\"ph\">{{nights in Istanbul for a limbal stem cell transplant}}<\/span> in Istanbul. If both eyes are affected and donor tissue is needed, your plan includes a discussion of immune-suppressing treatment and follow-up with a doctor at home.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Full examination<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Corneal examination with dye, anterior segment imaging, eye pressure, tear and eyelid assessment, and a retina check. If a transplant is not right for you, Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer tells you and explains why.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Surgery<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For SLET, a tiny strip of tissue is taken from the edge of your healthy eye, then the scarred tissue is cleared from the injured cornea and the small pieces are fixed onto an amniotic membrane in the same operation. Your interpreter is with you before and after.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Checks in Istanbul<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer examines both eyes before you fly home and adjusts your drops.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"step h-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Remote follow-up<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your coordinator stays in touch, and your surgeon reviews photographs and reports from your local eye doctor at agreed intervals.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-foot-flow prose\"><div class=\"links-row\" data-reveal><a class=\"link-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/how-it-works\/\">How it works: from WhatsApp to surgery to home <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Process (Step cards: 3 columns) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Process (Timeline) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"recovery-after-a-limbal-stem-cell-transplant\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Recovery after a limbal stem cell transplant<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>Recovery after a limbal stem cell transplant is gradual: the surface needs weeks to heal, and its long-term stability is judged over the first year. Your timeline depends on the technique and on how badly the eye was damaged.<\/p>\n\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"timeline\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>First days<\/b>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The operated eye is sore, watery and light-sensitive. You use antibiotic and steroid drops as prescribed, and your surgeon also checks the small area where tissue was taken from your healthy eye.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>First weeks<\/b>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>New surface cells grow out from the transplanted pieces and cover the cornea. Do not rub your eyes. Your surgeon checks healing with dye.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>First months<\/b>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After a transplant from your own eye, steroid drops are tapered fairly quickly (EyeWiki). Vision improves as the surface clears, but scarring underneath may still limit it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>First year<\/b>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is when most failures happen, so regular checks matter. If both eyes were treated with donor tissue, immune-suppressing medicine and blood tests continue.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>Afterwards<\/b>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If deep corneal scarring still blurs vision, a corneal transplant can be considered as a separate, later operation once the surface is stable.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t\t\t<p data-reveal>Call your coordinator straight away if you have increasing pain, redness, discharge or a sudden drop in vision.<\/p>\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Process (Timeline) End -->\n\n\n<!-- List (Checklist cards) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"risks-of-limbal-stem-cell-transplant\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\"><div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Risks of limbal stem cell transplant<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"col-12\"><p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>Limbal stem cell transplant is an established operation, but it does not always work and it carries risks. Your surgeon explains your personal risks in writing and through your interpreter before you sign anything.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"checklist row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-2\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>The surface may not hold.<\/strong> Around 2 to 3 in 10 eyes do not achieve a stable surface in the published series. In the SLET study, the conjunctiva slowly grew back over the cornea in 18% of eyes.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>Infection and inflammation<\/strong>, controlled with drops and regular checks.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>Loss of the transplanted pieces<\/strong> in the first weeks, one of the factors linked with failure.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>Donor-eye problems.<\/strong> Taking too much tissue can cause LSCD in the healthy eye, which is why surgeons limit the amount taken (EyeWiki). SLET uses the smallest amount, and the 2020 review found no serious donor-eye problems.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>Rejection and medicine side effects<\/strong> with donor tissue, which is why allogeneic grafts need long-term immune suppression and monitoring.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><div class=\"ck-item h-100\"><svg width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-check\"\/><\/svg><span><strong>Vision may stay limited<\/strong> if the eye also has scarring, glaucoma, cataract or retinal damage from the original injury.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- List (Checklist cards) End -->\n\n\n<!-- FAQ (FAQ accordion) Start -->\n<section class=\"faq pad\" id=\"faq\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><div class=\"faq-grid\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-side\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t48\" data-reveal>Stem cell eye treatment: frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"acc\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item is-open\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a1\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q1\">What is stem cell eye treatment?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q1\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Stem cell eye treatment replaces damaged eye cells with healthy ones. The established form is limbal stem cell transplantation, which rebuilds the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency. Stem cell treatments for the retina and optic nerve are still being tested in clinical trials and are not yet proven treatments.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a2\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q2\">Can stem cells restore sight?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q2\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>They can when sight is lost because the corneal surface has broken down after a burn or another cause of LSCD. In a 2016 study of 125 patients, 75% gained at least two lines on the eye chart after SLET. Stem cells cannot yet restore sight lost to macular degeneration, glaucoma or optic nerve damage outside research.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a3\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q3\">What is the success rate of limbal stem cell transplant?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q3\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>About 7 in 10 eyes overall, according to a 2020 systematic review of 1,023 eyes, and about 8 in 10 with SLET (78%) and CLAU (81%). Success means a stable, clear, healed surface; vision depends on what else the injury damaged.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a4\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q4\">Is there a stem cell treatment for macular degeneration?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q4\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Not an approved one. Early trials have tested stem-cell-derived retinal patches in small numbers of patients, with encouraging safety results, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises having them only within registered clinical trials. Proven treatments for wet AMD are eye injections.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a5\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q5\">What is the stem cell patch for macular degeneration?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q5\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>It is a thin sheet of retinal support cells grown from stem cells on a synthetic membrane and placed under the retina. In a 2018 London study, two patients with severe wet AMD read 29 and 21 more letters a year later. It remains an experimental treatment.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a6\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q6\">Is stem cell eye treatment available in the UK?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q6\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Limbal stem cell transplantation is available through NHS cornea specialists, and in 2017 NICE recommended the cultivated stem cell product Holoclar for eligible patients with LSCD after eye burns, for one eye. Stem cell treatment for the retina in the UK is available only in research trials.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a7\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q7\">How much does stem cell eye treatment cost in Turkey?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q7\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>With Laser Istanbul Clinic, a limbal stem cell transplant starts from <span class=\"ph\">{{\u00a3 price}}<\/span> per eye, including examination, surgery, medication, follow-up checks in Istanbul, interpreter and coordinator. Hotel and transfers are extra. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer confirms your price in writing after reviewing your reports.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a8\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q8\">How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q8\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Plan <span class=\"ph\">{{nights in Istanbul for a limbal stem cell transplant}}<\/span>. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer checks the eye before you fly, and your follow-up continues remotely with your local eye doctor.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a9\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q9\">Can stem cells repair the optic nerve or treat glaucoma?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q9\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Not yet. A 2024 analysis of seven small studies, 66 eyes in total, could not show that stem cells rebuild the optic nerve. Glaucoma is treated today by lowering eye pressure, and we do not offer stem cell treatment for the optic nerve.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-item\"><h3><button type=\"button\" class=\"t32\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"faq-76e87973-a10\" id=\"faq-76e87973-q10\">Do stem cell eye creams or serums work?<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"acc-panel\" id=\"faq-76e87973-a10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"faq-76e87973-q10\"><div class=\"acc-body\"><p data-reveal>Stem cell eye creams and serums are skincare products for the skin around the eyes. They do not treat eye disease and cannot replace lost cells inside the eye. If you have an eye condition, see an eye doctor instead.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is stem cell eye treatment?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Stem cell eye treatment replaces damaged eye cells with healthy ones. The established form is limbal stem cell transplantation, which rebuilds the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency. Stem cell treatments for the retina and optic nerve are still being tested in clinical trials and are not yet proven treatments.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can stem cells restore sight?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"They can when sight is lost because the corneal surface has broken down after a burn or another cause of LSCD. In a 2016 study of 125 patients, 75% gained at least two lines on the eye chart after SLET. Stem cells cannot yet restore sight lost to macular degeneration, glaucoma or optic nerve damage outside research.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the success rate of limbal stem cell transplant?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"About 7 in 10 eyes overall, according to a 2020 systematic review of 1,023 eyes, and about 8 in 10 with SLET (78%) and CLAU (81%). Success means a stable, clear, healed surface; vision depends on what else the injury damaged.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is there a stem cell treatment for macular degeneration?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not an approved one. Early trials have tested stem-cell-derived retinal patches in small numbers of patients, with encouraging safety results, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises having them only within registered clinical trials. Proven treatments for wet AMD are eye injections.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the stem cell patch for macular degeneration?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It is a thin sheet of retinal support cells grown from stem cells on a synthetic membrane and placed under the retina. In a 2018 London study, two patients with severe wet AMD read 29 and 21 more letters a year later. It remains an experimental treatment.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is stem cell eye treatment available in the UK?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Limbal stem cell transplantation is available through NHS cornea specialists, and in 2017 NICE recommended the cultivated stem cell product Holoclar for eligible patients with LSCD after eye burns, for one eye. Stem cell treatment for the retina in the UK is available only in research trials.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does stem cell eye treatment cost in Turkey?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"With Laser Istanbul Clinic, a limbal stem cell transplant starts from {{\u00a3 price}} per eye, including examination, surgery, medication, follow-up checks in Istanbul, interpreter and coordinator. Hotel and transfers are extra. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer confirms your price in writing after reviewing your reports.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Plan {{nights in Istanbul for a limbal stem cell transplant}}. Do\u00e7. Dr. \u00d6zer checks the eye before you fly, and your follow-up continues remotely with your local eye doctor.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can stem cells repair the optic nerve or treat glaucoma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not yet. A 2024 analysis of seven small studies, 66 eyes in total, could not show that stem cells rebuild the optic nerve. Glaucoma is treated today by lowering eye pressure, and we do not offer stem cell treatment for the optic nerve.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do stem cell eye creams or serums work?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Stem cell eye creams and serums are skincare products for the skin around the eyes. They do not treat eye disease and cannot replace lost cells inside the eye. If you have an eye condition, see an eye doctor instead.\"}}]}<\/script><\/section>\n<!-- FAQ (FAQ accordion) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Call to Action (Centred action) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"what-our-cornea-patients-say\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>What our cornea patients say<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"review-slots\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"widget-slot\" data-reveal><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-star\"\/><\/svg><span><span class=\"ph\">{{2\u20134 consented reviews from cornea \/ limbal stem cell transplant patients: first name, country, surgeon, date; or embedded Google\/Trustpilot widget}}<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"center-cta\" data-reveal><div class=\"links-row\"><a class=\"link-arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/reviews\/\">Patient reviews and video stories <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Call to Action (Centred action) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Table (Table on a light section) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad\" id=\"other-eye-treatments-people-ask-about\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Other eye treatments people ask about<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\"><p class=\"t22 sec-lead\" data-reveal>A limbal stem cell transplant repairs the surface of the cornea. If your problem is somewhere else in the eye, a different, proven treatment will help more.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"tbl-flow sec-pre-wide\"><div class=\"tbl-wrap\" data-reveal><table class=\"tbl rsp\"><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Your problem<\/th><th scope=\"col\">What usually helps<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Stem cells involved?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\">Hazy, painful, vascularised cornea after a burn (LSCD)<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Limbal stem cell transplant<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Thin, cone-shaped cornea (keratoconus)<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Cross-linking, corneal rings, transplant<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">No<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Cloudy natural lens (cataract)<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Cataract surgery with a lens implant<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">No<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Retinal detachment, macular hole, bleeding in the eye<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Vitrectomy and retina surgery<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">No<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Macular degeneration<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Injections for wet AMD; trials only for stem cells<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">Experimental<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">Short or long sight, astigmatism in healthy eyes<\/th><td data-label=\"What usually helps\">Laser, ICL or lens replacement<\/td><td data-label=\"Stem cells involved?\">No<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"features four row row-cols-1 row-cols-md-2 row-cols-lg-4\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-eye\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>Keratoconus treatment<\/h3><p>Cross-linking stops a weakening cornea from bulging further; rings and transplants restore shape and sight.<\/p><a class=\"feat-go\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/keratoconus-treatment-turkey\/\">Keratoconus treatment in Turkey <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-eye\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>Retina surgery<\/h3><p>For retinal detachment, macular holes and bleeding inside the eye.<\/p><a class=\"feat-go\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/retina-surgery-turkey\/\">Retina surgery: vitrectomy &amp; retinal detachment <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-lens\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>Cataract surgery<\/h3><p>Often needed after an eye injury once the surface is stable.<\/p><a class=\"feat-go\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/cataract-surgery-turkey\/\">Cataract surgery in Turkey <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\"><div class=\"feat h-100\"><span class=\"feat-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-eye\"\/><\/svg><\/span><h3>Vision correction for healthy eyes<\/h3><a class=\"feat-go\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/laser-eye-surgery-turkey\/\">Laser eye surgery in Turkey <svg width=\"18\" height=\"18\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- Table (Table on a light section) End -->\n\n\n<!-- List (Related pages) Start -->\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"related-tools\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"sec-head is-center row\"><div class=\"col-12\"><h2 class=\"t48 sec-title\" data-reveal>Related tools<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\t\t<ul class=\"pg-links row row-cols-1 row-cols-sm-2 row-cols-lg-3\" data-stagger>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"col\"><a class=\"pg-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-tests-diagnostics\/oct-scan\/\"><span>OCT scan (optical coherence tomography): how your retina and cornea are imaged<\/span><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-arrow-ur\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- List (Related pages) End -->\n\n\n<!-- List (Sources and medical review) Start -->\n<section class=\"psec pad tight\"><div class=\"container-fluid px-0\"><div class=\"row g-0\"><div class=\"col-12\"><details class=\"sources\" data-reveal><summary class=\"t22\">Sources for the facts on this page<\/summary><ol>\n\t\t<li>American Academy of Ophthalmology (EyeNet), <em>The State of Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation<\/em> (1 Nov 2024): role of limbal stem cells; LSCD can cause functional corneal blindness; causes incl. glaucoma surgery and mitomycin C (leading in the US), contact lenses, aniridia, SJS, MMP, burns, trachoma, radiation; CLAU (1989, up to 50% of donor limbus), SLET (2012, 1\u20132 clock hours), CLET (1997), Holoclar (EU 2015, not FDA-approved), CALEC, allografts with systemic immunosuppression, keratoprosthesis as last resort, COMET. https:\/\/www.aao.org\/eyenet\/article\/limbal-stem-cell-transplantation<\/li>\n\t\t<li>EyeWiki (AAO), <em>Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency<\/em>: palisades of Vogt; genetic and acquired causes; symptoms and signs; impression cytology, IVCM, AS-OCT; 2019 global consensus stages I\u2013III; medical first-line treatment; surgery for total or refractory partial LSCD; autologous vs allogeneic; limit tissue removed (&lt;4\u20136 clock hours); prolonged immunosuppression for allografts. https:\/\/eyewiki.org\/Limbal_Stem_Cell_Deficiency<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Shanbhag SS, Nikpoor N, Rao Donthineni P, et al. <em>Autologous limbal stem cell transplantation: a systematic review of clinical outcomes with different surgical techniques.<\/em> Br J Ophthalmol 2020;104:247\u2013253: 22 series, 1,023 eyes, 88% burns, 69% anatomical \/ 60% functional success at median 1.75 years; SLET 78%\/68.6%, CLAU 81%\/74.4%, CLET 61.4%\/53%; no serious donor-eye adverse events. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjophthalmol-2019-314081 (PMID 31118185)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Basu S, Sureka SP, Shanbhag SS, et al. <em>Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation: Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in 125 Cases of Unilateral Chronic Ocular Surface Burns.<\/em> Ophthalmology 2016;123:1000\u20131010: 1-clock-hour biopsy, amniotic membrane and fibrin glue in one sitting; 76% success at median 1.5 years; 1-year survival 80% adults, 72% children; 75.2% two-line gain; progressive conjunctivalisation 18.4%; failure factors (acid injury, severe symblepharon, SLET combined with keratoplasty, loss of transplants); &#8220;probably preferable\u2026 where cell cultivation facilities are unavailable&#8221;. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ophtha.2015.12.042 (PMID 26896125)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Rama P, Matuska S, Paganoni G, et al. <em>Limbal stem-cell therapy and long-term corneal regeneration.<\/em> N Engl J Med 2010;363:147\u2013155: 112 patients, 76.6% permanent restoration; failures within the first year; up to 10 years&#8217; follow-up. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa0905955 (PMID 20573916)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Shanbhag SS, Kate A, Ganguly S, et al. <em>Five- to Twelve-Year Outcomes of Autologous Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation.<\/em> Am J Ophthalmol 2025;273:107\u2013118: 47 patients, median 5.75 years, normal corneal epithelial phenotype in 68%. PMID 39924137, https:\/\/europepmc.org\/article\/MED\/39924137<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Jurkunas UV, et al. <em>Cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cell (CALEC) transplantation for limbal stem cell deficiency: a phase I\/II clinical trial.<\/em> Nat Commun 2025;16:1607: 14 of 15 (93%) met release criteria; 86%\/93%\/92% complete or partial success at 3\/12\/18 months; one unrelated infection; further studies needed. https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11880323\/ (PMID 40038272)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>European Medicines Agency, <em>Holoclar<\/em> EPAR: indication (adults, moderate to severe LSCD due to physical or chemical burns, 1\u20132 mm\u00b2 undamaged limbus needed); authorised 17 Feb 2015; switched from conditional to standard authorisation 22 Feb 2024. https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/medicines\/human\/EPAR\/holoclar<\/li>\n\t\t<li>NICE, <em>Holoclar for treating limbal stem cell deficiency after eye burns<\/em> (TA467, 16 Aug 2017): recommended for one eye, after CLAU or when CLAU is not possible; two eyes only in research. https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ta467\/chapter\/1-Recommendations<\/li>\n\t\t<li>American Academy of Ophthalmology, <em>Stem Cell Therapy for Eye Disease: What You Need to Know<\/em> (4 Jun 2019): no FDA-approved stem cell products for eye disease; AMD, RP and Stargardt under study; seek clinical trials; insurance will not cover; clinics should not charge thousands; three questions to ask. https:\/\/www.aao.org\/eye-health\/tips-prevention\/stem-cell-therapy-eye-disease-facts<\/li>\n\t\t<li>US FDA, <em>Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies<\/em> (updated 8 Apr 2024): reported harms include blindness, tumour formation and infections. https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/vaccines-blood-biologics\/consumers-biologics\/important-patient-and-consumer-information-about-regenerative-medicine-therapies<\/li>\n\t\t<li>US FDA, <em>Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products<\/em> (page updated 17 Sep 2026): Luxturna and Encelto are the eye-related products listed. https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/vaccines-blood-biologics\/cellular-gene-therapy-products\/approved-cellular-and-gene-therapy-products<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Hoy SM. <em>Revakinagene Taroretcel: First Approval.<\/em> Mol Diagn Ther 2025;29:553\u2013561: encapsulated allogeneic RPE cells releasing CNTF; approved in the US in March 2025 for idiopathic MacTel type 2. https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12343658\/ (PMID 40540142)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Kuriyan AE, Albini TA, Townsend JH, et al. <em>Vision Loss after Intravitreal Injection of Autologous &#8220;Stem Cells&#8221; for AMD.<\/em> N Engl J Med 2017;376:1047\u20131053: three patients, severe bilateral vision loss; 20\/30\u201320\/200 before, 20\/200 to no light perception after one year; complications listed. https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5551890\/ (PMID 28296617)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>da Cruz L, Fynes K, Georgiadis O, et al. <em>Phase 1 clinical study of an embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium patch in age-related macular degeneration.<\/em> Nat Biotechnol 2018;36:328\u2013337: two patients with severe wet AMD; gains of 29 and 21 letters at 12 months. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nbt.4114 (PMID 29553577)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Humayun MS, Clegg DO, Dayan MS, et al. <em>Long-term Follow-up of a Phase 1\/2a Clinical Trial of a Stem Cell-Derived Bioengineered Retinal Pigment Epithelium Implant for Geographic Atrophy.<\/em> Ophthalmology 2024;131:682\u2013691: 16 enrolled, 15 implanted, ages 69\u201385, safety primary endpoint, median follow-up 3 years. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ophtha.2023.12.028 (PMID 38160882)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Mandai M, Watanabe A, Kurimoto Y, et al. <em>Autologous Induced Stem-Cell-Derived Retinal Cells for Macular Degeneration.<\/em> N Engl J Med 2017;376:1038\u20131046: iPSCs from skin fibroblasts; one patient transplanted; at 1 year the sheet was intact and best-corrected acuity had not improved or worsened. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa1608368 (PMID 28296613)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Chaibakhsh S, Azimi F, Shoae-Hassani A, et al. <em>Evaluating the impact of mesenchymal stem cell therapy on visual acuity and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in optic neuropathy patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.<\/em> BMC Ophthalmol 2024;24:316: 7 studies, 66 eyes; logMAR 0.90 \u2192 0.65; no significant RNFL change. https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11287858\/ (PMID 39075477)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Pradhan LK, Das SK. <em>Zebrafish neural regeneration: mechanistic insights into human nervous system repair.<\/em> Neuroscience 2026: M\u00fcller glia reprogramme after retinal injury to generate progenitors that replace lost neurons. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuroscience.2026.01.009 (PMID 41525811)<\/li>\n\t\t<li>Sharma N, Kaur M, Agarwal T, et al. <em>Treatment of acute ocular chemical burns.<\/em> Surv Ophthalmol 2018;63:214\u2013235: chemical burns are an emergency; immediate copious irrigation universally recommended. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.survophthal.2017.09.005 (PMID 28935121)<\/li>\n\t<\/ol><\/details><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<!-- List (Sources and medical review) End -->\n\n\n<!-- Call to Action (Assessment band) Start -->\n<section class=\"cta-band\" id=\"assessment\">\n\t<div class=\"contact-bg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"cta-inner pad container-fluid\"><div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-7\"><div class=\"cta-copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"t64\" data-reveal>Find out if a limbal stem cell transplant can help your eye<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"t22\" data-reveal>Send us your eye reports, photographs of both eyes and the history of the injury. Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer will tell you whether limbal stem cell transplantation could help, which technique suits you and what it would cost, with no obligation. If your question is about the retina, Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram or Do\u00e7. 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Reply within <span class=\"ph\">{{response time}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"avatars\" aria-label=\"Our surgeons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/prof-dr-ahmet-satici-ophthalmologist-istanbul.webp 806w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><span class=\"tip\">Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sat\u0131c\u0131<\/span><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/doc-dr-muhammet-derda-ozer-cornea-specialist-istanbul-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><span class=\"tip\">Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer<\/span><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-150x150.webp\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/op-dr-aysan-bayram-eye-surgeon-istanbul.webp 806w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><span class=\"tip\">Op. 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