Gene therapy can partly restore sight in blind people, researchers reveal
Researchers have successfully used optogenetic gene therapy to restore partial vision in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment involves an eye injection that uses light to stimulate retinal ganglion cells, offering hope for high-resolution vision restoration in the future.
Why it matters
This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in treating genetic blindness using Nobel-winning science, potentially impacting millions of people worldwide.
The therapy was first shown to partly restore vision in a single blind person in 2021. The therapy was first shown to partly restore vision in a single blind person in 2021. Blindness and visual impairment 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
Prefer the Guardian on Google A type of gene therapy based on Nobel prize-winning science is safe and can partly restore sight in blind people, researchers have revealed.
The approach, known as optogenetic therapy, harnesses the technique for turning nerve cells on and off using light that scooped the 2026 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine.
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