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Global Treatment Approaches Part 2: Optogenetics and Retinal Implants.
Gareth D Mercer1, Brian G Ballios1, Peter J Kertes2
1Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Gene agnostic therapies like optogenetics and retinal implants can restore vision by targeting functional inner retinal cells. These approaches leverage the resilience of bipolar and retinal ganglion cells in inherited retinal diseases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) cause progressive vision loss.
- Inner retinal cells (bipolar and retinal ganglion cells) often remain functional late in IRD.
- Restoring vision in IRDs requires targeting these surviving cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review gene agnostic therapeutic strategies for IRDs.
- To highlight the potential of optogenetics and bioelectronic retinal implants.
- To emphasize the cellular targets for vision restoration in IRDs.
Main Methods:
- Review of optogenetic and bioelectronic retinal implant technologies.
- Analysis of the cellular mechanisms underlying IRD pathogenesis.
- Evaluation of the feasibility of targeting inner retinal cells.
Main Results:
- Optogenetics utilizes light-sensitive proteins to control neuronal activity.
- Bioelectronic implants provide electrical stimulation to evoke visual percepts.
- Both strategies exploit the late-surviving inner retinal cells.
Conclusions:
- Optogenetics and bioelectronic implants offer promising gene agnostic approaches for vision restoration in IRDs.
- Targeting bipolar and retinal ganglion cells is a viable strategy for IRD therapies.
- These technologies hold potential for treating a broad range of inherited retinal conditions.
