Optogenetics and vision

Abstract

In this article the authors discuss electronic and optogenetic approaches for degenerative (blind) retina prosthesis as the main strategies for the restoration of vision to blind people. Primary attention is devoted to the prospects of developing retinal prostheses for the blind using modern optogenetic methods, and rhodopsins, which are photosensitive retinal-binding proteins, are examined as potential tools for such prostheses. The authors consider the question of which particular cells of the degenerative retina for which rhodopsins can be prosthetic as well as ways of delivering the rhodopsin genes to these cells. In conclusion, the authors elucidate the main provisions and tasks related to optogenetic prosthetics for degenerative retina.