For the first time in over ten years, Stuart Haxell can see again after undergoing a revolutionary gene therapy at Mater Hospital in Dublin. The procedure, known as Luxturna, is the first of its kind in Ireland and works by injecting a gene-editing treatment into the eye, effectively restoring vision in patients with certain rare degenerative eye diseases.
Haxell, who received the treatment in November, said it took only a few weeks before he could read again, something he thought would never be possible. Professor David Keegan, the lead consultant ophthalmic surgeon, explained that the procedure is like “plugging a television back in,” with the eye’s cells producing an enzyme that reverses blindness.
Mater Hospital plans to treat a second patient this year, with hopes that this breakthrough will pave the way for future advancements in treating other genetic eye conditions. Experts at Fighting Blindness Ireland call this a monumental step forward, proving that scientific research can turn the impossible into reality.