Scientists have used gene injections to combat vision loss in elderly patients. This may lead to the creation of a new and more comfortable method of treating age-related macular degeneration.
A harmless virus turns the eyes into a drug factory. It is now being used to combat the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, age-related macular degeneration. With the help of this virus, a gene enters the eye, which informs the instructions for the production of its own supply of substances, but they save vision.
Restoration of vision is possible
This development of an American company is a kind of gene therapy. The virus includes the genetic code to produce aflibercept in the eyes. It acts as a gene transfer vehicle that instructs eye cells to produce the same protein. Data from an ongoing US study showed a 93 percent reduction in fluid levels in patients' eyes after injections.
Stem cells stop vision loss
Age-related macular degeneration occurs when a part of the retina at the back of the eye called the macula , which is involved in central vision, is damaged. As a result, people lose their central vision, that is, they see the contour of the clock, but they cannot determine the time, and they also lose the ability to recognize people's faces. The first signs of AMD are usually diagnosed at the age of 50-60 years. The cause of the pathology is unknown, it is associated with smoking, hypertension, obesity and heredity. There are two forms of macular degeneration – dry, which is the most common, and wet. (READ MORE)
Important! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.