Recent advances in science have given rise to an enormous amount of hope for new treatment option for inherited retinal diseases, or IRDs. RNA therapies, gene replacement therapies and stem cell-based approaches are all making positive strides through clinical testing, and we even have one gene therapy approved for use in the National Health Service here in the UK.
But the vast majority of these treatments target a specific gene or even mutation. Their ability to save sight relies entirely on successful identification of individuals with the corresponding genetic fault, and therein lies a significant challenge.