Light-Activated Drugs Restore Sight in Blind Mice Without Implants

Researchers developed photoswitchable small-molecule drugs (prosthe6) that mimic photoreceptor signaling and reactivate intact retinal circuits in blind mice and zebrafish. Delivered by eye injections or eye drops, these compounds restore light responses under normal indoor lighting without implants or genetic modification, effectively reviving basic visual behavior in animal models; two compounds, prosthe6-12 and prosthe6-15, showed especially strong results. Human testing has not begun; safety and formulation work continues with the goal of a noninvasive, drug-based vision restoration approach applicable to many retinal diseases.