Last Updated: Milestone : Scientists Partially Restore Blind Man s Vision With ’gene Therapy’
“It’s a big step for the field, neurobiologist Flannery said. Most important thing is that it is safe and permanent, he added about blind man s vision.
IMAGE: NATURE JOURNAL
In a first, scientists in Europe and the US have been able to partially restore the eyesight for a blind man who suffered photoreceptor disease nearly 40 years ago. Employing the technique known as optogenetics, which involves altering cells such that they manufacture the light-sensitive proteins, scientists were able to get the vision back for the 58-year old patient. Now, he can recognize people, do the counting, locate and touch different objects.