Until the approval of Luxturna®, there were no definitive treatments for any IRDs. Today, with the success of Luxturna®, preliminary results from therapies currently under investigation, and an expanding therapeutic toolkit, we have good reason for optimism. We envision a future in which gene-specific therapies allow a growing number of individuals with IRDs to maintain and potentially improve their vision.
Even with this optimism, however, continuing current efforts into other treatment strategies is important. We also want to continue to develop therapies that can help individuals for whom identifying a genetic disease is more challenging, or, those at a stage of disease where genetic therapy is not the best solution. We hope that ongoing research into gene-agnostic neuroprotective agents, stem cells, and light restoration therapies, including optogenetics and retinal prostheses will also result in new therapies and better outcomes for patients with IRDs and other retinal disorders.