Leading the way in life-changing eye care
Improving outcomes means bringing the most advanced care to the people who need it. New eye care treatments are helping patients regain independence and improve quality of life.
We are the first in British Columbia to offer a new retinal gene therapy that can restore night vision for people with inherited vision loss. Performed by eye surgeons at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), this innovative procedure is already helping patients regain independence and improving quality of life.
One of the first patients to benefit was 15‑year‑old Dominic Juliette, who lives with Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a rare genetic eye disorder caused by a faulty RPE65 gene. The condition, which affects roughly one in 50,000 people, leads to severe vision loss early in life.
In early 2025, VGH ophthalmic surgeons Dr. Wai Ching Lam and Dr. Zaid Mammo performed two surgeries to replace the faulty gene in each of Dominic’s eyes with a functional version that supports photoreceptors responsible for vision in low‑light conditions.
These procedures were made possible through a new surgical microscope with intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), funded by the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The advanced technology allows surgeons to visualize the retina in real time during surgery, supporting greater precision and safety.
“Studies show this type of vision loss can impact a person’s independence, learning and daily activities in a way comparable to losing a limb,” says Dr. Lam. “We’re already seeing tremendous early benefits for patients.”
We also introduced specialized diagnostic equipment, the Full-field Stimulus Test (FST) to help assess night vision before and after treatment. Funded through the B.C. Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases program, the FST measures how the eye responds to flashes of light. Ophthalmology Geneticist Dr. Kevin Gregory-Evans, who helped bring the FST to VGH, provides diagnoses and ongoing care for patients with inherited retinal diseases, including Dominic.
Dominic, who is on the autism spectrum, describes the change in his vision as dramatic.
“It's like someone turned on a really bright light,” he says. “I can take my scooter to school now. I used to have to be taken by my grandad.”
This milestone reflects our commitment to bringing leading-edge treatments to patients across the province, helping more people maintain independence and participate fully in their communities.
