Leeds research team finds 'blindness gene'

Claims that the UK discovery of a new 'blindness gene' could save the sight of thousands of people were made this week. It is believed that the find, by researchers at Leeds University, will eventually help the vision of sufferers of retinal disease by leading to the development of new treatments. The university vision research group is studying rare inherited forms of retinal disease in order to understand the forms of blindness affected by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in diabetic retinopathy and ageing-macular dystrophy, said to be the leading causes of blindness in the Western world. This week it was reported that the Leeds scientists had found a second gene linked to the inherited disease FEVR, which affects the growth of the vessels of the eye. Although this is an extremely rare disease, the discovery by the Leeds-based unit could lead to early detection and possibly improved treatments for diabetic retinopathy and AMD. Dr Carmel Toomes, a member of the research group, said: 'It is very frightening to imagine how your life would change if you were to lose your sight, but for many this is the reality. 'By the time we retire, one in 50 of us will have a significant defect of vision, and after retirement the incidence rises sharply.' Dr Toomes has used genetics to understand the disease, and commented that while there were many different causes for the various types of retinal blindness, the cellular processes were often similar. The research was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.