[Vision restoration: science fiction or reality?]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Blindness affects millions, significantly impacting autonomy and quality of life.
• Current treatments for blindness are limited, necessitating innovative solutions.
• Visual prostheses and optogenetic therapies offer promising avenues for vision restoration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state and future prospects of visual prostheses and optogenetic therapies.
• To highlight advancements in restoring vision for various blinding conditions.
• To discuss the potential for these technologies to improve patient independence.

Main Methods:

• Review of market-authorized and investigational visual prostheses (retinal and cortical).
• Assessment of optogenetic therapy progress at retinal and cortical levels.
• Consideration of emerging strategies requiring further validation.

Main Results:

• Several retinal and cortical prostheses are in clinical trials for conditions like retinal dystrophies, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
• Optogenetic therapy has reached clinical trials for retinal applications and is advancing for cortical use.
• Pre-clinical studies show promise for novel strategies, pending large animal validation.

Conclusions:

• Vision restoration through prostheses and optogenetics is becoming a reality for many patients.
• These technologies aim to provide functional vision for improved societal participation.
• While not replicating natural vision, restored vision will significantly enhance patient autonomy.