retinal diseases

The idea of going blind is a frightening thought for anyone. Recent work to restore visual function during retinal degenerative diseases resulting in complete loss of photoreceptors that enable vision, has created hope that retinal diseases leading to blindness may one day be reversed.

Researchers have used gene therapy to safely restore vision in three young adults with a rare form of congenital blindness -- Leber congenital amaurosis.

Although the patients have not achieved normal eyesight, the preliminary results set the stage for further studies of an innovative treatment for this and possibly other retinal diseases.

A team of UIC neuroscientists has developed a technique for extracting useful quantities of insect blood from a single fruit fly.

The technique may prove useful in genetic studies and for studying minute amounts of fluid from disease hot-spots, such as those where some retinal diseases begin.