Scientists at the NIH have developed new eye drops that may slow vision loss in diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The drops use small pieces of a natural protein called PEDF, which protects the retina—the part of the eye that helps us see. In mice with RP-like disease, the drops saved up to 75% of light-sensing cells, kept vision stronger for longer, and caused no harmful side effects. The treatment worked fast, reaching the retina in less than an hour.
The drops also protected human retina cells grown in the lab. Because of these results, researchers plan to start testing the drops in people soon. In mice, combining the drops with gene therapy kept vision stable for six months, suggesting the drops could work well alongside other treatments.
What this means for the Usher syndrome community: For people with Usher syndrome, these drops could be life-changing. They might slow vision loss, giving families more years of usable sight and independence. Since there is currently no cure for USH, an easy-to-use drop could provide hope and buy time until gene therapies or other advanced treatments are available.
