An experimental therapy using human embryonic stem cells to treat degenerative eye diseases has proved safe and effective in animal studies, and may begin early human trials in the next few months if approved by the FDA.

Developed by Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), the treatment re-creates retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, which are often the first to die off in age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases, which in turn leads to loss of vision.