A revolutionary gene therapy has successfully restored vision in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to results from a landmark Phase III clinical trial published today.

The therapy, developed by biotech firm Lumina Therapeutics, uses a modified adeno-associated virus to deliver a functional copy of the RPE65 gene directly to retinal cells. Of the 180 patients treated, 72% showed significant improvement in visual acuity within six months.

"I can see my grandchildren's faces again," said Margaret Thompson, 78, one of the trial participants. "It's nothing short of a miracle."

AMD affects over 200 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 50.