Chelsea Parris
Oct. 26 2009
2:43pm
A 9-year-old boy named Corey Haas was classified as legally blind due to a disease called Leber's congenital amaurosis. Reading in school and riding a bike were very difficult for him. His family feared that with age he would go completely blind. When the family heard about the experimental vision procedure in Boston they were happy and up for it.
Corey received a procedure where scientists use DNA from a DNA bank to create a functioning gene. The gene was then injected into his eye with a thin needle. The new gene will make a missing protein inside Corey's faulty retina to help restore his vision.
Corey began seeing changes just four days after it. In fact, following the procedure, Corey could complete a vision obstacle course that previously took him four minutes to complete in just a few seconds. The foundation is trying to make the procedure widely available.
This is amazing. Though Corey wasn't completely blind he still was severely affected by the congenital disease and the procedure helped him see. This makes me wonder if people that are completely blind can undergo a similar procedure and also be able to see. Medical research and technology is getting so advanced and I think it is incredible!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/26/earlyshow/health/main5421926.shtml
1 comment:
Being able to see along with many other things, is something we all take for granted. For a week I couldn't walk due to a torn muscle in my hip. After that week, I swore I would never take walking for granted. The world has so many beautiful things in and I'm glad this boy will be able to see them better.
Post a Comment