A 14-year-old Cuban who spent most of his life blind can now see. The operation was successfully completed thanks to an enterprising doctor who performed the world’s first topical gene therapy in the form of eye drops in Miami, United States of America (USA).
Recently, the drug has been approved as a topical gel for skin lesions caused by a condition that causes severe ulcers, sometimes resulting in fused fingers and toes.
The boy, António Vento Carvajal, was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, caused by malfunctions in the gene responsible for the production of collagen, which holds the layers of the skin together. Parents traveled with their son for treatment in the United States.
The disease belongs to a broader group of rare diseases called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), which affects about one in every 50,000 children.
The scars on his cornea accumulated over time, eventually deteriorating his vision so badly that he no longer felt safe walking. Carvajal participated in clinical trials in which the topical gel was tested with great success.
Dr. Alfonso Sabater, observing the progress of Antonio, suggested that the gel could be turned into eye drops, and he was right.
Antonio’s eyes recovered from the surgeries, and with the help of the drops, the 14-year-old boy was able to see perfectly again.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
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