Scientists restore partial sight in blind man using optogenetic therapy
Updated:
Updated:
May 25, 2021 12:58 IST
During the tests, the patient was able to locate and touch a notebook on a table in front of him 92% of the time while wearing the goggles. Without them, he was unable to perform any visual task.
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Experimental setup. Behavioral responses and brain activity were simultaneously recorded during the visual test. Credit: Sahel, JA., Boulanger-Scemama, E., Pagot, C. et al. Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy. Nat Med (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01351-4
During the tests, the patient was able to locate and touch a notebook on a table in front of him 92% of the time while wearing the goggles. Without them, he was unable to perform any visual task.
WORLD / EUROPE
Partial sight restored in blind man
By AFP Published: May 25, 2021 08:28 PM Scientists have for the first time managed to partially restore the sight of a blind patient by altering his cells, according to the results of a groundbreaking study published on Monday.
A visually impaired student reads Braille during an online class on World Braille Day on January 4 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Photo: VCGThe technique known as optogenetics, which has been developed in the field of neuroscience over the last 20 years, involves genetically altering cells so they produce more light-sensitive proteins.
In some cases of blindness, known as inherited photoreceptor diseases, light-sensing cells in the retina that use proteins to deliver visual information to the brain via the optic nerve progressively degenerate.
Scientists in Europe and the US recruited a man who had lost his sight due to an inherited photoreceptor disease 40 years ago and began treating him with optogenetic techniques. Reuters/File
PARIS: Scientists have for the first time managed to partially restore the sight of a blind patient by altering his cells, according to the results of a groundbreaking study published on Monday.
The technique known as optogenetics, which has been developed in the field of neuroscience over the last 20 years, involves genetically altering cells so they produce more light-sensitive proteins.
In some cases of blindness, known as inherited photoreceptor diseases, light-sensing cells in the retina that use proteins to deliver visual information to the brain via the optic nerve progressively degenerate.
AFP/ MANILA BULLETIN
The technique known as optogenetics, which has been developed in the field of neuroscience over the last 20 years, involves genetically altering cells so they produce more light-sensitive proteins.
In some cases of blindness, known as inherited photoreceptor diseases, light-sensing cells in the retina that use proteins to deliver visual information to the brain via the optic nerve progressively degenerate.
Scientists in Europe and the US recruited a man who had lost his sight due to an inherited photoreceptor disease 40 years ago and began treating him with optogenetic techniques.
This involved injections in his eye and several months of stimulation with light emitting goggles, which transformed images of the visual world into light pulses projected into the retina in real time.