Six of 10 participants met light-sensitivity threshold after optogenetic therapy

In a small open-label trial, 10 people with advanced retinitis pigmentosa received gene therapy that made surviving retinal cells light-sensitive, paired with special goggles. Seven showed improved light sensitivity, and six met the study’s threshold for a clinically meaningful gain. Some could better detect or locate objects, but the treatment did not restore normal vision, reading or face recognition. One severe eye-related adverse event occurred.