Blind man can see objects again after groundbreaking treatment
Patient s vision will continue to improve after genes from light-sensitive algae inserted into retina cells, say scientists
24 May 2021 • 4:45pm
The patient successfully locating various objects placed on a white table - with his non-treated eye covered and treated eye open and wearing light-stimulating goggles
Credit: Jose-Alain Sahel/Botond Roska/Nature Medicine/PA
A blind man who lost his sight nearly 40 years ago can see objects again after his eye cells were genetically modified to become sensitive to light.
The 58-year-old had suffered from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a condition in which the top layer of the retina degenerates so the eye can no longer sense light, for most of his adult life.
“Able-bodied” is an offensive term to describe non-disabled people, a charity has said.
A list of appropriate and inappropriate terms for those with disabilities has been released by Leonard Cheshire, adding that the language used is “vital”.
The charity, set up in 1948 by RAF group captain Leonard Cheshire, said that people should say “non-disabled” rather than “able-bodied.”
The term able-bodied is seen by some people in the disabled community as implying that all people with disabilities do not have able bodies .
“Blind” should also be avoided, according to their list, with people urged to use “person with visual impairment” instead.