Hope For Millions Blinded by Glaucoma After Electrical Currents Restore Sight In Patients

An electrical current could restore the sight in a condition that affects millons of people, scientists claim.

.Glaucoma occurs when fluid is not properly drained from the eye causing damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain 

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, according to the World Health Organization

It occurs when fluid is not properly drained from the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain.

Many patients have blurred vision as if they were seeing through dirty glasses which gets progressively worse as they age.

There is currently no cure for the devastating condition.

Now, however, scientists have shown that administering pulses of electricity into the brains of glaucoma patients massively improves their sight and quality of life.

After just 10 days, many were able to walk unassisted, see distant objects and read small writing in books.  

This is the first treatment capable of reversing damage and restoring vision – currently the only options available for patients are to prevent future blindness.

HOW SIGHT WAS RESTORED 

The technique is known as alternating current stimulation (ACS) and involves attaching four electrodes around patients’ eyes.

Doctors then switch on the current for approximately 50 minutes and it travels directly to their brain.

The treatment works by making the brain more powerful so it is better able to decipher the information which travels down the damaged optic nerve. 

Afterwards, tests showed their vision had improved by an average of 24 per cent and many said their sight was less blurred and they were able to read small writing again.