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New Sight Restoration A new approach to "turning on" a blind retina without genetic operations or implants uses special light-sensitive molecules that work as a molecular prosthesis for dead photoreceptors. The most impressive aspect is that in animal experiments, it worked not only after injections but also in the form of ordinary eye drops, under room-level lighting. This technology targets diseases that destroy photoreceptors, such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The new technology utilizes photopharmacology - prosthe6 molecules that change shape under visible light. They attach to the mGlu6 protein on ON-bipolar cells, which normally receive signals from photoreceptors. When light enters the eye, prosthe6 is activated and triggers a signal chain, as if the photoreceptor were still working. This is maximally close to natural physiology. In animal experiments, the results were noticeable: blind fish regained rapid eye movements, which require complex image processing. Mice with models of macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa regained light-perception behavior, avoiding bright areas again. The prosthe6-12 and prosthe6-15 versions worked especially well, with the effect appearing after injection and after drops, under ordinary white light, without special lamps. The molecules act at an early stage of the visual chain - on bipolar cells, not on deeper structures like electronic implants. This gives a chance to preserve natural image processing within the retina. However, it is currently impossible to say how detailed human vision will be: animal behavior shows the presence of light sensitivity but not the restoration of sharpness. There are also first steps towards the clinic: in Australia, a small test of another photo-switchable drug, KIO-301, has already been conducted on 6 patients with severe retinitis pigmentosa, as reported in Nature Aging, July 2026. It was safe but not intended to test efficacy. This shows that the technology is already moving out of laboratories. The most promising aspect is the drop form: if it can be proven that the drug passes through the human cornea in the necessary concentration, treatment may become simple, without requiring surgery, implants, or special glasses. 🔗 Read original →