Purpose of review: In this review, we will discuss the recent developments in optogenetics and their potential applications in ophthalmology to restore vision in retinal degenerative diseases.
Recent findings: In recent years, we have seen major advances in the field of optogenetics, providing us with novel opsins for potential applications in the retina. Microbial opsins with improved light sensitivity and red-shifted action spectra allow optogenetic stimulation at light levels well below the safety threshold in the human eye. In parallel, remarkable success in the development of highly efficient viral vectors for ocular gene therapy led to new strategies of using these novel optogenetic tools for vision restoration.
Summary: These recent findings show that novel optogenetic tools and viral vectors for ocular gene delivery are now available providing many opportunities to develop potential optogenetic strategies for vision restoration.