Study: Gene therapy cured color-blind monkeys; can possibly improve human vision

To determine the effect of gene therapy in curing color-blindness, Neitz and his colleagues trained several of the monkeys in a lab, where they were given the standard color-blindness test for humans. However, the normal hidden letter was changed with a blob-like shape, and the test was put on a touch screen.

Noting that all male monkeys are color-blind and cannot distinguish between green and red, Neitz elaborated that "From the monkey's perspective, the blob is like a fruit against a background of leaves. We trained them to touch the screen where they see the color blob." He added that there was a marked improvement in the monkeys' perception after the treatment.

Commenting on the findings, Neitz remarked that treating humans with the gene therapy might possibly "cure their color vision."