Summary
This review covers advances in ocular gene therapy for blindness, including gene replacement, neuroprotection, and optogenetic strategies that could restore light sensitivity to degenerated retinas. For lighting and circadian health applications, optogenetic approaches are particularly relevant as they may restore ipRGC-mediated responses to light, potentially recovering circadian entrainment capacity in blind individuals.
Key Findings
- Proof-of-concept studies were underway as of 2013 evaluating safety and efficacy of human retinal gene therapies, including optogenetic approaches
- Optogenetic therapy represents a novel avenue for restoring vision by introducing light-sensitive proteins (opsins) into surviving retinal cells in degenerative conditions
- The eye is identified as an optimal compartment for gene delivery due to its accessibility and immune privilege, supporting feasibility of clinical translation
Categories
Eye Health & Vision: Reviews gene therapy approaches for restoring vision in blinding retinal diseases, directly relevant to preserving photoreceptor function.
The Science of Light: Discusses optogenetic therapies that introduce light-sensitive proteins into retinal cells, relevant to photoreceptor biology and phototransduction.
Author(s)
JA Sahel, B Roska
Publication Year
2013
Number of Citations
176
Related Publications
Eye Health & Vision
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Genetic reactivation of cone photoreceptors restores visual responses in retinitis pigmentosa
- Melanopsin and rod–cone photoreceptors play different roles in mediating pupillary light responses during exposure to continuous light in humans
- Characteristic patterns of dendritic remodeling in early-stage glaucoma: evidence from genetically identified retinal ganglion cell types
- Intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin retinal ganglion cell contributions to the pupillary light reflex and circadian rhythm
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice