There has been lots of activity in the research world using embryonic and adult stem cells to treat not only macular degeneration, but other eye diseases as well, such as Stargardts macular dystrophy, optic nerve disease and glaucoma.   These early Phase I clinical trials enroll very small numbers of patients, leaving the rest of the world to watch and wait.

But perhaps there are other ways to replace damaged cells with healthy stem cells produced by your own body. Damon P. Miller II, M.D. board-certified medical doctor, fellowship-trained radiologist and certified by the American Naturopathic Certification, has written a book called Stem Cells Heal Your Eyes: Prevent and Help: Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt, Retinal Dystrophy, and Retinopathy.  Dr. Miller does not practice traditional medicine but rather uses natural, drugless therapies  to treat chronic medical conditions. He has devoted a significant part of his practice to the treatment of eye disorders.

Dr. Miller worked with Grace Halloran, PhD  to put together several eye health therapies now called the Better Eye Health Program, that seek to  prevent vision loss from eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and macular degeneration.   Dr. Halloran was diagnosed with RP and macular degeneration at the age of 25.  When her son was born he also  inherited the defective gene for RP.   After many visits to academic medical centers she received the same answer from all of them – there is nothing we can do for your son’s vision.   Not to be deterred she determined that she must take responsibility to find or pave her own way to prevent this eye disease from taking her and her son’s vision.   She was able to restore much of her own vision and her son’s vision remained healthy and normal through a variety of different therapies along with diet and nutrition. Dr. Miller writes, “Dr. Halloran’s therapies were helping people support their own adult stem cells to regenerate damaged eye tissue.”  You can read Grace’s story in her autobiography, Amazing Grace, Autobiography of a Survivor.

Unlike a single injection into the eye, the stimulation of one’s own stem cell production involves many different therapies and approaches.  Also unlike today’s healthcare which treats a single part of the body, such as the eye or the retina, these therapies work to improve systems of the body such as increasing circulation,  providing nourishment and oxygen, and reducing chronic inflammation.  According to Dr. Miller, “when an individual incorporates certain disciplines into their lifestyle, vision can be improved and degeneration can be slowed or stopped.”  Here are some of the therapies he uses:

Nutrition/Diet/Supplements
Color Therapy
Vision Exercises
Stress Management
Microcurrent Stimulation

Dr. Miller explains, “Adult stem cells allow the body to repair damaged tissue previously thought irreparable including eye tissue.” Find out more about his book and the Better Eye Health Program here:

Stem Cells Heal Your Eyes

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com