Light-based gene therapy partly restores sight in 10 blind people
Optogenetic therapy, which switches nerve cells on and off with light, is safe and can partly restore sight in blind people, researchers say. The trial enrolled 10 people with advanced retinitis pigmentosa. In that group of genetic disorders, light-sensitive cells in the retina gradually fail, while ganglion cells, which send visual information to the brain, hold up longer. “What we can say for sure is that the concept of optogenetics is valid for vision restoration,” said Prof Botond Roska of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel.
Sight is only partly restored so far. Roska says the aim now is high-resolution vision, and he hopes to get there in five to 10 years.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].