Light-Activated Drugs Restore Vision | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 1m

Scientists are revolutionizing vision restoration with light-activated drugs that bypass damaged retinal cells, essentially rerouting visual signals like a traffic detour. Tested in blind zebrafish and mice, these “prosthe6” compounds—delivered via injection or eye drops—restored critical eye movements and natural light-avoidance behaviors under normal daylight. Unlike gene therapy or implants, they’re simple, non-invasive molecular prosthetics. After over a decade of research, the team is now refining longevity and safety for human trials, with a spin-off company helping push this…