Cure in sight for blind Peruvians

A genetic disease transmitted from mother to son may soon see its end after generations of being in the dark.

Peru Paran, blind man

Doctors have discovered an extremely high rate of blindness in a remote Peruvian village where seven generations of people in Paran have a disease which causes eye damage from a young age.

A doctor last year found that among the 400 villagers of Paran, 50 were affected with the disease – that is 12 per cent of its population.

Tests in the US point to a possible cure, but for now many continue to live without their sight.

Al Jazeera’s Mariana Sanchez reports from Paran, Peru.

Source: Al Jazeera