Developing stem cells treatments for glaucoma

Thanks to Fight for Sight funding I am able to carry out research into the use of stem cells to treat glaucoma, the second most common cause of sight loss in the world.  Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, which is vital for sight as it sends information from the eye to the brain.  

Unfortunately, by the time many people know they have glaucoma their sight has been damaged so much there is very little that can be done.  What’s more, whilst some treatments do exist they cannot reverse the damage that has already been caused. 

With your support great progress is being made

It is thanks to the generosity of Fight for Sight supporters that we have already seen some very promising results in our experimental models. They have shown that there is great potential for us to develop new treatments for glaucoma and by using stem cells that it is possible to protect the optic nerve from damage.

We believe that by taking a patient’s own stem cells and transferring them into the back of the eye we could slow the degeneration of the remaining cells in the optic nerve, in order to preserve remaining sight.  Our hope for the future is that we will also be able to regenerate the optic nerve using stem cells, thereby reversing damage and restoring sight. 

Please help to enable more pioneering eye research

We are so grateful for the kind support you have shown to Fight for Sight.  It is thanks to you that eye researchers have been able to take great strides to give sight back to so many.  A gift today will help to ensure Fight for Sight can support more research.  This is necessary not only to address glaucoma but also other eye conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, as well as the causes of childhood blindness.  

If you or someone you know is living with an eye condition I’m sure you will agree how important it is that we continue to invest in eye research, which will help to change lives.  I assure you that your gift, no matter the size, will help to make a real difference.  

There are different ways to make your donation, including an online donation option:

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

Professor Keith Martin
Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Cambridge
Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge


PS There is so much potential to find ways to give sight back, your gift today will help us to speed up the search for new treatments.