Gene therapy can partly restore sight in blind people, researchers reveal
Optogenetic therapy, based on Nobel prize-winning science, involves turning nerve cells on and off using light
TL;DR
- Optogenetic therapy, based on Nobel prize-winning science, can partly restore sight in blind people.
- A trial involving 10 participants with advanced retinitis pigmentosa showed safety and partial vision restoration.
- The gene therapy makes surviving ganglion cells in the retina light-sensitive, enabling perception of monochrome images via light-stimulating goggles.
- Six out of 10 participants experienced clinically meaningful improvements in light sensitivity.
- Participants showed improvements in tasks like detecting objects and locating doors when using the goggles.
- The therapy's effectiveness does not depend on the specific genetic cause of sight loss.
- One severe eye-related side-effect resolved quickly, with no other body-related side effects reported.
- Future goals include restoring high-resolution vision within five to 10 years.
- Limitations include the inability to detect faces due to the treated cells' ring-like arrangement around the fovea.