Can be blinded by chemicals

Eyesight of blind mice restored after scientists injected a chemical into their eyes, opening up the prospect of treating blindness for humans.

Richard Kramer - a professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California at Berkeley, USA - and colleagues found a compound that could make cells in the retina sensitive, AFP believe.

The team mutated genes to kill rods and cones - two types of light-sensitive cells - in the mouse's eyes only a few months after they were born. When the mice are big, they inject AAQ, the name of the compound, into the eyes of the mice. After a while, the rats appeared to be alarmed when experts shone light on their eyes, a phenomenon that could not have happened if they were still blind.

The chemicals of Richard Kramer group bring hope to those who suffer
The most common types of blindness, such as retinal degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

AAQ only helps mice to see for a short time, but does not require surgery. It could pave the way for the emergence of vision recovery solutions without the need for implantation of chips or stem cells into the eyes - two techniques being studied.

'The advantage of this method is that we only need a simple chemical, which means you can change the dose, combine it with other methods or stop treatment at all times if you feel unhappy. please with the results , 'Kramer said.

No one knows how well the mice see, but the researchers claim that the AAQ chemical works because the pupil of the dilated rat when exposed to strong light and the mouse shines away from light.

The achievement of Kramer can bring hope to people with the most common types of blindness, such as retinal degeneration and pigment retinitis.

'This is an important step in the field of vision recovery. We will have to prove that AAQ is a safe compound and can be effective for the human eye. However, the test results show that AAQ has the ability to restore sensitive cells in the retina , "said Russell Van Gelder, president of the University of Washington's Department of Ophthalmology. Gelder also participated in the study with Kramer.