Swiss Gene Therapy for Blindness Shows Further Encouraging Progress

Researchers in Basel report promising results from an expanded trial of optogenetic therapy for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited retinal disease that can cause blindness. The treatment aims to make surviving retinal cells respond to light. Seven of ten participants showed increased light sensitivity, and four of eight could distinguish the outlines of small objects, such as a matchbox. Participants who practiced more with specialized glasses tended to see better. Researchers call the findings an important step, but say the therapy is still far from restoring normal vision or enabling reading