Optogenetic gene therapy improved vision in some people with inherited blindness

An experimental optogenetic gene therapy improved some visual functions in people with advanced retinitis pigmentosa, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers gave a single injection in one eye to each of 10 participants. The treatment delivered a gene to surviving retinal ganglion cells, and specialized goggles converted camera images into light patterns to stimulate those cells.

Medical Xpress reported that seven of 10 participants had improved light sensitivity, with gains large enough to be clinically meaningful in six. Some participants also improved at detecting and locating objects and reaching for them while wearing the goggles. The treatment did not restore normal vision or the ability to read. The Guardian reported one severe eye-related side effect, which resolved within minutes. Researchers said they hope to work toward restoring high-resolution vision in five to 10 years.