The blind man regained his sight partially. This is due to revolutionary gene therapy

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During the experiment, the man also wore an EEG cap to monitor the work of the brain / (Nature Medicine, 2021)

The man also had to put on special goggles to stimulate the work of the eye. The goggles projected flashes of light before his eyes to match the specific shapes and positions of objects in front of him. The patient was able to see the light correctly, which "prompted him" what his surroundings looked like.

“The goggles capture images from the visual world with a neuromorphic camera that detects changes in intensity pixel by pixel as discrete events. The goggles then transform the events into monochrome images and display them in real time as pulses of light, 'explain the researchers.

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The goggles map the outside world and transmit the impulses to the eye

"The patient was initially a bit frustrated as it took a long time between the injection and the moment he started seeing something," admits lead author Dr José-Alain Sahel. The patient began training with the goggles approximately 4.5 months after the injection and did not report any improvement in vision until approximately 7 months later.

With the help of this experimental therapy, a patient who was previously unable to visually detect things and people in front of him was able to successfully perceive, locate and touch various objects that were placed on the table in front of him - for example a notebook or a glass.

Light stimulation goggles / (Nature Medicine, 2021)

In another test, the man was also able to identify and quantify the white stripes at a crosswalk. By wearing the goggles after the first tests were completed, the patient reported that he was able to see and recognize other objects outside the laboratory as well.

“The patient reported a significant improvement in daily visual activities, such as detecting a plate, cup or telephone, finding a piece of furniture in a room, or detecting a door in a corridor, but only with the use of goggles. Thus, treatment by combining an optogenetic vector with light pulsed glasses led to a level of improvement in this patient's eyesight that is likely to bring significant benefits in everyday life, ”the study wrote.

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Promising results from the first tests of vision restoration therapy

The experimental optogenetic therapy still requires a lot of further research, but the first results are very promising. The authors of the study hope that optogenetic treatments and the use of goggles may one day restore at least some level of vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Of course, while the preliminary results are exciting, the study only looked at one patient treated with this experimental method.

Pigmentation degeneration is a relatively rare disorder. Estimates suggest that around 2 million people worldwide suffer from them, and the disease can vary in severity. Advances in optogenetics may offer new hope for these patients and their families.

Source: Nature Medicine