Scientists Move Closer To Finding Cure For Hereditary Blindness

Scientists at the Ulster University are moving closer to finding the world's first cure for hereditary blindness.

The scientists have discovered a treatment that can repair damage caused by cloudy deposits in the cornea. The cornea is the outer clear part of the eye that allows light to pass through to the back of the eye and the condition, called corneal dystrophy, worsens with age, eventually leading to blindness.

Using a DNA editing technology called CRISPR, Ulster University's vision science experts have designed a method of targeting the specific DNA or gene in the eye that is responsible for the cloudy deposits. The highly advanced treatment has been developed by treating mice with the same eye disease and the University team is now progressing towards human trials.

The treatment involves injecting a medicine into the front of the eye which precisely targets the disease-causing gene and switches it off but which doesn't harm other healthy tissue. It reverses the damage caused by the eye disease and restores clear vision in the patient.

Ulster University's Professor Moore said: "Corneal disease patients frequently refer to the frustration and anger caused by the condition which not only robs them of their sight, but potentially their children and grandchildren too.The only generic treatment currently available to those blinded by the disease is corneal transplantation using a donor organ eye and this comes with risks and variable success rates."

(CD)