Dear Colleagues,
Research in gene augmentation and genome editing for the treatment of inherited retinal disorders (IRDs) is thriving. It is estimated that IRDs affect about 200,000- 300,000 people in the United States and 4-6 million people worldwide. Most patients with these conditions become blind by the age of 60, if left untreated. Therapies being developed and tested at Mass Eye and Ear could help to slow disease progression and potentially even improve vision in these patients.
Additionally, with recent advances in genetic testing, we are often able to identify the genes that trigger the diverse genetic conditions responsible for destroying the light-sensing photoreceptors of the retina. These data allow researchers to target specific genes when developing the latest gene therapies and gene-editing treatments.
While gene therapy is not yet widely available for IRDs, researchers are making exciting discoveries, and the future looks more promising than ever before. In this issue of eye Insights, we provide a look into current offerings in gene therapy, and a glimpse into the exciting prospects brought forth by clinical trials being led by our own researchers, here at Mass Eye and Ear.
We hope you find this issue of eye Insights useful in your practice. Back issues are available online at masseyeandear.org. If you have questions or comments, please email us at eyeinsights@meei.harvard.edu.
Joan W. Miller, MD
David Glendenning CoganProfessor of Ophthalmology and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Chief of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital
Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Brigham and Women’s Hospital