“Cell therapy” is becoming increasingly available to the public via online direct-to-consumer
advertisement within the United States (U.S.). The current study investigates the
scope of “cell therapy” clinics across the U.S. that advertise and offer “cell therapy”
for ocular conditions based on information provided on their websites. A cross-sectional
study. The study included companies that are U.S.-based, participate in direct-to-consumer
online marketing, have websites that can be data-mined with content analysis, and
advertise therapy for ocular conditions. Using a systematic, extensive keyword-based
Internet search, content analysis of company websites was utilized to identify, document,
and analyze U.S. businesses marketing “cell therapy” for ocular conditions as of September
16 th , 2017. Clinic locations, source of stem cells used, route of administration,
marketed ocular conditions, and cost of treatment. Forty companies with 76 clinics
use “cell therapy” to treat ocular conditions. California (23), Florida (12), and
Illinois (10) contain the most clinics. All 40 companies specified sources of cells,
which included autologous adipose-derived stem cells (35; 67%), autologous bone marrow-derived
stem cells (8; 15%), amniotic stem cells (2; 4%), peripheral blood-derived stem cells
(2; 4%), umbilical cord blood stem cells (2; 4%), allogenic bone marrow-derived stem
cells (1; 2%), placental stem cells (1; 2%), and xenocells (1; 2%). The most commonly
marketed ocular conditions included macular degeneration (35), optic neuritis (18),
retinitis pigmentosa (17), and diabetic retinopathy (16). The most common routes of
administration were intravenous (22) and “unspecified” (12), however other companies
listed more ocular-specific routes such as intravitreal injections (2), retrobulbar
injections (2), eye injections (2), retrofundal injection (1), subtenon injection
(1), intraocular injection with vitrectomy (1), and eye drops (1). The cost of advertised
“cell therapy” ranged from $4,000 to $10,500. ”Cell therapy” for ocular conditions
is readily available via direct-to-consumer marketing strategies across the United
States. The “cells” are harvested from numerous sources and administered through different
methods for multiple ocular conditions at these “cell therapy” clinics. Limited data
for these treatments necessitates advocating caution to physicians and patients about
treatments offered at commercial “cell therapy” clinics. “Cell therapy” clinics that
target ocular disease are present within the United States. They utilize direct-to-consumer
marketing and harvest “cells” from numerous sources, which are administered through
various methods.