Therapy replaces defective eye gene

Several eye diseases caused by retinal damage can be treated with gene therapy, which provides the cells of the eye with a healthy version of a defective gene. The gene is carried into the cells by a virus. The virus’ own RNA is removed, and the cured eye gene is inserted. Patients with retinitis pigmentosa get the RPE65 gene, which recreates the light-sensitive cells of the retina (rods and cones).