Diagnosis and treatment

Treatment for LCA

At the moment LCA is untreatable but a number of novel interventions are currently under investigation including gene therapy.

The aim of gene therapy for the eye is to restore aspects of vision by using a harmless virus to introduce a normal copy of a defective gene into the cells where it is needed to make it available for use, essentially ‘replacing and correcting’ the defect.

Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology were some of the first people in the world to conduct gene therapy in the eye for LCA caused by defects in the gene RPE65. This research helped prove that gene therapy might help some people with this particular form of LCA in the future.

More research will need to be undertaken to determine to what extent gene therapy might help people with LCA and to determine what other forms of LCA might benefit from other forms of gene therapy.

video transcript

Hello, my name is Jake Ternent.

I have Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). In 2020 and 2021, I received Luxturna gene therapy for  this inherited rare eye condition.  

I feel very lucky and privileged to be one of  the first people in the United Kingdom to receive this ground-breaking treatment, which is hoped to  keep my vision around for the rest of my life.  

This has improved my life so much by simply just increasing my night vision and increasing my peripheral vision, increasing other facets  of my vision. I'm so thankful for Moorfields for this amazing cutting edge treatment, to be available on a magnificent NHS. I feel so   privileged and so honoured to receive such  an amazing treatment, in the time where we are struggling with what's going on in the  world. I feel very lucky and very happy with the outcome, and look forward to seeing more things in the future.

How much does treatment cost?

Initial consultation

From £450

This includes an initial consultation and a visual acuity assessment.

If further outpatient tests and investigations are required, they will be charged at an additional rate. The most commonly required test is an OCT scan. Your consultant will discuss this with you at your consultation.

Treatment

The cost of onward treatment will be provided after initial consultation, based on your personalised treatment plan.

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Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm excluding bank holidays for general enquiries or to book an appointment.

0800 328 3421

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