Written based on 20 research studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11..
The claim
Posts online say that stem cell treatment helps with glaucoma.
Where research stands
We found 61 published papers on stem cell treatment and glaucoma. They were published between 2001 and 2026. None of them is a study in people. 17 were studies in animals, and 4 were only in cells in the lab. 28 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 1 new study in people is running or will start soon, say the trial registers. 15 research projects on stem cell treatment for glaucoma are funded and still running.
- 0In people
- 17In animals
- 4Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Stem cell treatment has been studied for glaucoma in animals, not yet in people.
Unproven means: it was only tested in animals or cells, or there is too little or mixed data from people. How we rate claims
What this means for you: Results in animals or in cells often do not hold in people. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Stem Cell-Based Interventions for Retinal Ganglion Cell Protection and Regeneration in Glaucoma: A Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions.2026 · Ophthalmic Res · Review
- Limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to topical glaucoma medication: a scoping review.2026 · Int J Ophthalmol · Review
- Beyond IOP: Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration as important therapeutic strategies for glaucoma.2026 · Biomed Pharmacother · Review
- Stem cell-based approaches for glaucoma treatment: a mini review.2025 · Open Life Sci · Review
- Human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal ganglion cells: advances in differentiation and translational applications.2025 · Mol Med · Review
- Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Glaucoma Treatment: A Review Bridging the Gap in Veterinary Patients.2024 · Int J Mol Sci · Review
- Adipose-derived stem cell exosomes alleviate oxidative damage and reduce intraocular pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma via the ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway.2026 · Exp Cell Res · In animals
- Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosome miR-146a-5p Attenuates TGF-β2-Induced Transformation of Human Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts by Targeting SMAD4.2026 · Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci · In animals
- Engineered mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles attenuate acute glaucoma-induced neuroinflammation by reprogramming microglial polarization.2026 · Int Immunopharmacol · In animals
- Chitosan-rapamycin carbon dots rejuvenate autologous Sca-1⁺ stem cells paracrine function for neuroprotection in normal tension glaucoma.2026 · Stem Cell Res Ther · In animals
- Anti-Apoptotic and Neurite-Protective Nanomedicine Augments Embryonic Stem Cells-Derived Retinal Ganglion Cell Transplantation in Glaucoma Recovery.2026 · Adv Sci (Weinh) · In animals
- BMP4-GPX4 can improve the ferroptosis phenotype of retinal ganglion cells and enhance their differentiation ability after retinal stem cell transplantation in glaucoma with high intraocular pressure.2025 · Hum Mol Genet · In animals
- Hepatocyte Growth Factor Confers Trabecular Meshwork Stem Cell Resilience and Paracrine Protection of Trabecular Meshwork Cells in Glaucoma.2026 · Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci · In the lab
- Transplantation of human trabecular meshwork stem cells induces cell proliferation and intraocular pressure reduction in a cell loss model of glaucoma.2026 · Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol · In the lab
- Effects of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes on trabecular meshwork cells via the NRF2 pathway.2026 · J Pharm Pharmacol · In the lab
- Adipose-derived stem cells integrate into trabecular meshwork with glaucoma treatment potential.2020 · FASEB J · In the lab
- Correction to: Transplantation of human trabecular meshwork stem cells induces cell proliferation and intraocular pressure reduction in a cell loss model of glaucoma.2026 · Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol · Other paper
- Induction of astrocyte reactivity promotes neurodegeneration in human pluripotent stem cell models.2024 · Stem Cell Reports · Other paper
- Correlation Between Anterior Chamber Angle Status and Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma.2024 · Am J Ophthalmol · Other paper
- Corrigendum to 'microRNA-21a-5p/PDCD4 axis regulates mesenchymal stem cell-induced neuroprotection in acute glaucoma'.2023 · J Mol Cell Biol · Other paper
