Let there be light

Two separate studies restore vision in humans, mice with retinal degeneration

Seeing the light might now get easier for people with a rare, genetic form of blindness. Some blind mice also offer hope that people who have lost all the light processing cells in their eyes might not have to stay in the dark forever.

Gene therapy restores limited vision in three people with an inherited form of blindness. Studies in mice indicate that other cells in the retina can take over for rod and cone cells.
EYE TROUBLE At left is the retina of a patient with the inherited disease Leber’s congenital amaurosis, pallid compared to a normal retina (right).