Based on findings from a recent study in Nature Medicine, a 58-year-old man with retinitis pigmentosa, which causes death of light-gathering cells in the retina, is able to see and count objects with the use of special goggles that send pulses of amber light to his eyes. Prior to optogenetic therapy, he could detect some light but was not able to see motion or identify objects. With optogenetic therapy, a light-sensitive protein is used to make nerve cells fire a signal to the brain when exposed to certain light wavelengths.

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