Gene therapy 'could be used to treat blindness'

General forum for the UK Keratoconus and self-help group members.

Click on the forum name, General Discussion Forum, above.

Moderators: Anne Klepacz, John Smith, Sweet

User avatar
GarethB
Ambassador
Ambassador
Posts: 4916
Joined: Sat 21 Aug 2004 3:31 pm
Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Location: Warwickshire

Gene therapy 'could be used to treat blindness'

Postby GarethB » Thu 16 Jan 2014 10:10 pm

Caught this on the news today;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25718064

Interesting article that has proved to of had a definite benefit correcting vision where the issue was due to a single faulty gene. I believe for KC that a defect in multiple genes is the cause so coule this be the first step in developing this technology that it could help us and many other conditions of the eye?
Gareth

munster
Regular contributor
Regular contributor
Posts: 117
Joined: Sat 29 Oct 2011 7:23 pm
Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
Vision: Contact lenses

Re: Gene therapy 'could be used to treat blindness'

Postby munster » Tue 04 Feb 2014 11:16 pm

Personally, I'd have more faith in stem cell impregnated dissolvable contact lenses to repair the damage to the cornea, than gene therapy.

User avatar
GarethB
Ambassador
Ambassador
Posts: 4916
Joined: Sat 21 Aug 2004 3:31 pm
Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Gene therapy 'could be used to treat blindness'

Postby GarethB » Wed 05 Feb 2014 8:33 am

Stem cells is just another form of gene therapy, it just uses the whole gene rather than inseting part of a gene in place of the defective one.
Gareth


Return to “General Discussion Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests