Antonio Vento was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blisters all over his body and in his eyes. But his skin improved when he joined a clinical trial to test the world’s first topical gene therapy. That gave Dr. Alfonso Sabater, with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, an idea: What if it could be adapted for Antonio’s eyes? This insight not only helped Antonio, it also opened the door to similar therapies that could potentially treat millions of people with other eye diseases, including common ones.