Grant: Project Grant

Many techniques are currently being developed to provide visual capabilities to the retinas of patients suffering from vision impairment. However, despite recent technical advances it remains unclear how effective such 'restored vision' can be. For example, in the small number of case studies in which severely vision-impaired patients have gained sight in their eyes in adulthood, most were unable regain normal visual capabilities. This inability to properly 'see' after vision restoration likely arises in part from a failure of brain circuits to effectively rewire and incorporate the newly acquired visual inputs from the eye. To address this issue, we will use optogenetic vision restoration techniques - a trick to make the blind retina light sensitive again - in mouse models of retinal degeneration and assess the quality of vision rehabilitation. We will examine how visual brain circuits change following vision loss and vision restoration. Finally, we will perform experimental interventions in attempt enhance the quality of this vision rehabilitation strategy. The results from this study will be important for the development of future vision restoration approaches.