Six patients have undergone an operation in which genes were inserted into their eyes to revive light detecting cells. All of the patient would have gone blind had it not been for this treatment performed by surgeons in Oxford. The leading researcher, Professor Robert McLaren said he was “absolutely delighted” with the results from the trial which began two years ago.
In the eyes of people with good vision the retina cells at the back of the eyes detect light. Partial blindness is caused by retina cells dying due to a faulty gene. This new therapy involves injecting a fluid to lift a layer of the retina cells to stop further degeneration. To stop the rest of the retina cells dying working copies of the faulty genes are then injected into the eye.
Mr Jonathan Wyatt, who has choroideremia (a genetic conditions where the light detecting cells are dying) was the first of the six patients to have the therapy. Mr Wyatt who had very little vision hoped that the treatment would stop his eyesight deteriorating any further. After the operation his visions was not only stabilised, it was improved.
Mr Wayne Thompson also underwent the operation which resulted in a dramatic improvement to his vision. Mr Wayne told reporters “Trees and flowers seemed much more vivid and I was able to see stars for the first time since I was 17 when my vision began to deteriorate.”
The hope for the future is this treatment will be used to treat children with choroideremia before they lose their sight. Professor MacLaren also believes that gene therapy could be used to cure other forms of genetic blindness such as age-related macular degeneration.
In the eyes of people with good vision the retina cells at the back of the eyes detect light. Partial blindness is caused by retina cells dying due to a faulty gene. This new therapy involves injecting a fluid to lift a layer of the retina cells to stop further degeneration. To stop the rest of the retina cells dying working copies of the faulty genes are then injected into the eye.
Mr Jonathan Wyatt, who has choroideremia (a genetic conditions where the light detecting cells are dying) was the first of the six patients to have the therapy. Mr Wyatt who had very little vision hoped that the treatment would stop his eyesight deteriorating any further. After the operation his visions was not only stabilised, it was improved.
Mr Wayne Thompson also underwent the operation which resulted in a dramatic improvement to his vision. Mr Wayne told reporters “Trees and flowers seemed much more vivid and I was able to see stars for the first time since I was 17 when my vision began to deteriorate.”
The hope for the future is this treatment will be used to treat children with choroideremia before they lose their sight. Professor MacLaren also believes that gene therapy could be used to cure other forms of genetic blindness such as age-related macular degeneration.