New Therapies Offer Hope for Vision Restoration, From Cataracts to Genetic Blindness
Rome, Italy - November 3, 2025 – A wave of regenerative therapies, including gene therapy and optogenetics, are poised to revolutionize the treatment of eye diseases ranging from common conditions like cataracts and myopia to inherited retinal degenerations causing blindness, according to leading Italian ophthalmologists. These advancements promise to move beyond symptom management toward potential cures and a significant enhancement in quality of life for millions.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects a significant portion of the population in developed countries and is currently managed with frequent injections.However,research is shifting toward a more permanent solution. Similarly, genetic conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, which lead to progressive vision loss, are now being targeted with innovative approaches that aim to restore light sensitivity. The potential impact is enormous, offering hope to those facing vision impairment and blindness, and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
“Research is focusing on the use of gene therapy to transform retinal cells into ‘drug factories’,” explains Stanislao Rizzo, Director of complex Operational Units (UOC) of Ophthalmology at the Gemelli Irccs Polyclinic in Rome and SISO advisor. “The idea is to introduce genes that code for therapeutic proteins, such as the anti-VEGF antibodies used in current monthly injections, so that the eye produces the drug on itS own, eliminating the need for repeated injections.”
Beyond gene therapy, genome editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are being explored to directly correct genetic defects at the DNA level. Mario Romano, director of the Humanitas University Eye Clinic Milan - Bergamo and Siso advisor, highlights the promise of this approach: “techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 promise to correct genetic defects directly in the patient’s DNA, with the ‘cut and paste’ technique, offering a definitive cure at the molecular level.”
For patients with complete photoreceptor loss,such as those with retinitis pigmentosa and choroideremia,researchers are experimenting with optogenetics – a technique that introduces genes to make remaining nerve cells sensitive to light,effectively bypassing the damaged photoreceptors. This transforms these cells into functional substitutes,offering a potential pathway to restoring vision.
