A drug has been found to improve the vision of patients with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON).
A study led by Newcastle University, in liaison with German and Canadian centres, treated 36 patients with the drug idebenone or a placebo over 24 weeks.
LHON is an inherited disease where there is a fault with the mitochondria of retinal ganglion cells leading to blindness. Around 10,000 people are affected in the UK.
The treated group showed some improvement, up to two lines on an acuity chart, in their vision with the drug. The effect is thought to be due to the drug entering remaining mitochondria and having an anti-oxidant effect.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Optician Online. Register now to access up to 10 news and opinion articles a month.
Register
Already have an account? Sign in here
