Blurred vision, cured by gene transfer

A group of doctors at London Eye Hospital used gene therapy for the first time to treat patients associated with eye regulation disorders. This new gene therapy allows doctors to implant a patient's eye with a light-detecting gene, after which they treat it until the eye's retina is able to receive light normally.

They conducted this new therapy on Robert Johnson, a man with an eye regulation disorder, a disease that gets older, the more bad signs appear.

Mr. Johnson has an eye disorder caused by a faulty gene in his eye. This makes the cell layer in the retina of the eye unable to function. Normally, these will be light detectors. But for Mr. Johnson's case, these cells were destroyed.

Currently, Mr. Johnson has a transplanted gene in his eye. Thanks to that, he could see the scenery outside by day. But at night, this ability will be worse. Doctors hope that transplanted genes will restore the cells' ability in the retina.

Mechanism of gene therapy: 1. An probe is inserted into the eye and brought to the retina. 2. The alternative gene is inserted between two layers of light-receiving cells, making up the retina. It is the pigment that protects organs that receive light stimuli. 3. Once treated, genes on the pigment layer are stored and provide light stimuli so that the eye can receive light normally. 4. Stimulating receptors of light will transfer light from the eye to the central nervous system for processing.

It took several months of research and experimentation, these doctors only knew exactly whether the therapy really produced the expected success. If successful, this therapy will be widely used to treat a large number of people with eye disorders today.

This therapy has been carried out in the laboratory, in animals, but if feasible, given certain successes, Johnson will be the 12th patient selected to apply this advanced therapy.

The research leader, Professor Robin Ali from the London Eye Institute, and his colleagues took 15 years to research and successfully develop this important application. He said: 'I cannot describe the feeling of fear when conducting the experiment. It took us so long to get this success. ' And his colleague, James Bainbridge, said that when they did, they did not believe the surgery would be successful.

But in the end, everything was fine. He added: "This therapy allows us to identify and treat damaged genes without causing any complications ."

This therapy requires a very high accuracy. Just a small negligence, the patient's retina will be torn and the treatment will experience complete failure.

Doctors are implanting genes into patients' eyes (Photo: BBC)

Cam Quyen