A federal judge on Monday struck a blow against the rapidly growing stem cell industry, ruling for the Food and Drug Administration in its efforts to halt treatments by U.S. Stem Cell, a clinic in Sunrise, Fla., that blinded three patients by injecting a fat extract into their eyes.

The decision does not shut down the clinic but states that the F.D.A. has the authority to regulate it and is entitled to an injunction against it. The judge, Ursula Ungaro of United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is expected to issue a further ruling shortly that will specify what action can be taken against the clinic.

U.S. Stem Cell performs liposuction on patients to suck out belly fat, processes the fat to extract what it describes as stem cells and then injects the extract back into patients. It has claimed that the process can treat neurological, autoimmune, orthopedic and degenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as A.L.S. or Lou Gehrig’s disease), lung disease, heart disease, back trouble, arthritis and other problems.

The clinic is one of hundreds of loosely regulated stem-cell businesses that have sprung up around the country, offering to treat an array of ailments. Some use cells from fat, some use the patient’s own bone marrow or platelets, and some use cord blood or other birth tissue like amniotic membranes.