EIRMC helping man regain his vision

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center is trying to help a North Dakota man regain his vision.

Fifty-eight-year-old Harley Engelman is legally blind. He was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at 26. People who have this rare genetic disorder lose their central vision.

Engelman’s wife found a clinical trial stem cell ophthalmology treatment stud, or SCOTS. This study involves harvesting the stem cells from the individual undergoing treatment person, and injecting them back into that person—both around the eye and in the voided areas of the retina.

Engelman was accepted into this clinical study in late January, and had the 1 hour procedure on March 4 in Florida.

The doctor conducting the study suggested post-op treatments to increase the oxygen to the stem cells. Hyperbaric therapy increases the amount of pure oxygen received, which helps strengthen red blood cells, which, in turn, helps stem cells multiply. While time in the hyperbaric chambers is not part of the study, Engelman was able to have four of the 10 suggested treatments in Florida after his procedure. However, there are no hyperbaric facilities in North Dakota for him to complete the other six treatments.

Engelman’s sister, Iris Torvik, is the Executive Director of EIRMC’s women’s and children’s services. Torvik knew that EIRMC had two hyperbaric chambers, so she reached out.

Engelman has been getting treatment at EIRMC all week. His last treatment is Saturday. From here, he’ll return home and wait.

Some cases have reported seeing results as soon as six weeks post-op. So far this study has yielded a 65 percent success rate.