A clinical trial led by Newcastle University has shown that the drug, Idebenone ( Catena ), improves the vision and perception of colour in patients with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy ( LHON ). The inherited condition means patients, who can see normally, lose the sight in one eye then within 3 to 6 months lose the sight in their other eye.

In some severely affected patients such as those who were unable to read any letters on the chart, the treatment with Idebenone resulted in a marked improvement in their vision. In nine patients ( 12 eyes ) out of 36 patients ( 61 eyes ) taking Idebenone, vision improved to the extent that patients were able to read at least one row of letters on the chart. In contrast not a single patient of the 26 who were taking the placebo improved to that extent.

Inherited from the mother, and mainly affecting men, LHON is caused by damage to the mitochondria in the eyes. It is one of the most common causes of inherited blindness and is thought to affect around 2,000 people in the UK, around 10,000 in Europe and a further 10,000 in the USA.

Researchers have described, in the journal Brain, how patients with LHON were recruited from Newcastle Hospitals in the UK, in Munich, Germany and in Montreal, Canada for a double blind trial. Patients were either given Idebenone for 24 weeks or a placebo.
At the end of the six months, some patients who were taking Idebenone had improved vision and this is the first time a successful treatment has been found. The greatest improvement was seen in patients who had deteriorated in one eye more than the other.

Idebenone penetrates into the mitochondria and is thought to mop-up toxic free radicals and enhance mitochondrial function. Previous research had provided anecdotal reports of improvements in vision but this is the first time it had been put to the test in a clinical trial.

Source: Newcastle University, 2011

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