Proteins and Retina Deterioration

A recent study has shown that if light sensitive proteins called channelrhodopsins, are introduced into the retina then Retinitis Pigmentosa can be delayed or stopped. In Retinitis Pigmentosa the retina deteriorates due to abnormalities in the photoreceptors or the retinal pigment epithelium of the retina, this disorder typically leads to progressive blindness. When a cell in the retina contains channelrhodopsins the protein can be activated to exposure to light, this causes neighboring cells to take over function of the photoreceptors. 

This method has been successful in resting vision in mice but it has its limits in humans. The human eye has the ability to see in anything from "weak starlight to glaring sunlight." However in this procedure a patient would only work in the brightest sunlight since the variants of channelrhodopsin have not been developed completely. Improvement on the characteristics of the protein is in the works. Researchers are using a computer model to investigate what the goals for the channelrhodopsins are.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131127225344.htm