Efficacy and safety of stem cells in the treatment of glaucoma: systematic review and meta-analysis based on animal experiments
Abstract
Purpose Glaucoma, characterized by progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration and optic nerve atrophy, remains a leading global cause of irreversible blindness, despite advancements in clinical management. While current therapies predominantly focus on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), neuroprotective strategies to preserve visual function remain an unmet clinical need. Stem cells exhibit high proliferative capacity and multilineage differentiation potential, demonstrating notable efficacy in glaucoma treatment. Emerging preclinical evidence further highlights dual neuroprotective mechanisms (i.e., paracrine neurotrophic support and cellular replacement) of stem cell-based interventions. Accordingly, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation in experimental glaucoma models, with a focus on functional outcomes (IOP modulation), structural preservation (RGC survival, and nerve fiber layer integrity), and neuroprotective efficacy. Methods A systematic literature retrieval from multiple online databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, WFSD, VIP, and CBM) was conducted through 3 January 2025, to identify relevant animal experimental studies. After the assessment of the risk of bias in the listed articles, this study further computed effect sizes of stem cell transplantation on indices such as IOP, RGC count. Statistical analyses were completed using RevMan…
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