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    3 Women Blinded By Unproven Stem Cell Treatments

    Three patients were blinded after getting stem cells from fat at a Florida clinic. But a research study showed that induced pluripotent stem cells might someday help treat vision loss.
    by Rob Stein Mar 15, 2017 5 minutes
    Stem cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of two human retinal stem cells (purple and red) on their feeder cells (green). Stem cells from the retina of the eye are able to differentiate into any of the different retinal cell types. The type of cell they mature into depends upon the biochemical signals received by the immature cells. This ability makes retinal stem cells a potential source of cells to repair damaged retinal tissue and restore eyesight in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. The patients own stem cells could be used and so would not be rejected. Magnification: x2, 700 when printed 10 centimetres wide. / PROFESSOR MIODRAG STOJKOVIC/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images

    Scientists have long hoped that stem cells might have the power to treat diseases. But it's always been clear that they could be dangerous too, especially if they're not used carefully.

    Now a pair of papers published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine is underscoring both the promise and the peril of using stem cells for therapy.

    In one report, researchers document the cases of three elderly women who were blinded after getting stem cells derived from fat tissue at a for-profit clinic in Florida. The treatment was marketed as a treatment for macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness among the elderly. Each woman got cells injected into both eyes.

    In , a patient suffering from the same condition

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