“Let's Go” with Sabrina Marandola celebrates local stories, explores a range of perspectives and shines a light on people making a difference in our community. Get all the latest news and transportation updates to move into your afternoon.
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We all know people are born with a set of genes that they inherited from their parents. But what if you were born with a defective gene that causes severe vision loss? That’s the case for 11 year-old William. He has a rare genetic eye disorder called Leber congenital amaurosis. This condition usually causes progressive blindness, but a new treatment now offers hope. Last month, William became the first patient in Quebec to receive gene therapy that replaced his defective gene with a functional one. We’re joined today by Cynthia Qian, one of the two retinal surgeons who administered this treatment. She and her colleague Flavio Rezende are also clinical professors of ophthalmology at the University of Montreal.