Gene therapy effective for treating wet age-related macular degeneration: Study

New Delhi, Oct 15 (ANI): Recently developed gene therapy seems to be a promising alternative for treating one of the most common causes of blindness, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), claims a study. Researchers said the hope is that gene therapy will free patients from nearly monthly eye injections by offering a potential "one-and-done" treatment. It's not just about convenience; a more consistent treatment may also help people keep more of their vision. AMD is a degenerative eye disease that happens when part of the retina is damaged. The damage happens when new, weak blood vessels form behind the retina at the back of the eye. These abnormal vessels leak, causing scarring and killing off the cells that allow us to see. One main reason why is that patients are undertreated. This is because most people with AMD must go to the ophthalmologist's office every four to eight weeks for an injection directly into their eye (oftentimes in both eyes). This can be a difficult schedule