New data shows encouraging results for patients with neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease New data published in the Journal Science Translational Medicine shows encouraging results in a worldwide clinical trial for patients diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative blinding eye disease; Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON.) The disease is an inherited form of vision loss estimated to affect 1 in 30,000 to 50,000 individuals. LHON most often afflicts people with rapid onset of blindness in the prime of their life - men and women in their teens or twenties. Males are about four to five times more likely than females to be affected by the condition.