The bionic retina: a small molecule with big potential for visual restoration.

In this issue of Neuron, Polosukhina et al. (2012) intravitreally deliver the light-activatable molecule acrylamide-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium (AAQ) to the eyes of mice with end-stage retinal degeneration. Results show that, with the appropriate illumination, AAQ restores light sensitivity and visual behavior.