Future looks bright for B.C. teen after groundbreaking gene replacement eye surgery

Eye surgeons at Vancouver General Hospital have helped a pair of patients reverse conditions that could have left them completely blind.

Born with a rare genetic eye disorder, 15-year-old Dominic Juillette always had trouble seeing in low light – and the problem was getting worse.

“I would constantly have to hold onto my grandmother’s shoulder or arm whenever I was around her in a dimly lit area,” he told CTV News.

The condition, known as Leber’s congenital amaurosis, affects about one in 50,000 people.

Until recently it was irreversible.

“With time, people will gradually lose more and more of their regular vision, including day vision. And then, eventually, they may lose complete vision,” said Dr. Wai Ching Lam, an eye surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital.

Dominic, who lives in Fort St. James, travelled to Vancouver for treatment at VGH’s Eye Care Centre, where he went under the laser.

He is only the second patient at the centre to receive a new gene replacement therapy.

During a pair of surgeries earlier this year, Lam and Dr. Zaid Mammo replaced the defective gene in each of Dominic’s eyes with one that has photo receptors for better vision in the dark.

After several weeks of recovery, Dominic can now see better than ever.

He even feels comfortable riding an electric scooter, which he never did before because of his declining vision.

“His self-confidence level has gone through the roof. He’s really a good kid, he’s energetic and wants to get out and do more,” said Linda McInnes, Dominic’s grandmother and caregiver.

The procedure has given Dominic the freedom to rely more on himself – which has been a big adjustment for his caregivers.

“I know that she said to me at one point, I don’t know what to do now because I’ve been his eyes for 15 years,” grandmother Jeannie Juillette said about McInnis, Dominic’s other grandmother.

Lam hopes many more patients can also benefit from the same procedure.

“Maybe for the first time they are able to function at nighttime. They are able to walk in the dark – even stargazing,” he said.

For Dominic, the successful surgeries have even impacted his bedtime.

“I’ve personally found it disappointing that I felt the need to go to bed so early because I couldn’t see,” he said. “And now that doesn’t apply anymore. So, it feels pretty good.”