Autologous mitochondrial eye injections tested for vision restoration in blind patient

Scientists extracted functional mitochondria from a female patient’s leg muscles and injected the organelles into the vitreous fluid of her eyes following a brain hemorrhage that left her nearly blind. The experimental treatment, approved on an emergency basis by the US Food and Drug Administration, showed no signs of inflammation or damage in either eye. After the injections, the patient’s pupils exhibited a temporary light response that persisted for roughly four weeks, and she reported seeing vague shapes and shadows in her left eye during a low-vision assessment.

Despite these physiological changes, the procedure did not restore meaningful vision. The findings, shared in a preprint dated 10 August and not yet peer-reviewed, aim to establish the safety of autologous mitochondrial transplantation in ocular tissue, building on earlier heart and brain trials. Researchers emphasized that efficacy remains unproven and further studies are needed.