Japanese scientist find a way to turn stem cells into a human eyeball

Scientists in Japan’s Osaka University have found a new way to turn stem cells into a human eyeball in what is a remarkable breakthrough for the medical community. A small sample of adult skin is all that would be required in order to grow retinas, corneas, lenses, and other key components of the eye.

To help visualize the process, the video above demonstrates the growth of human iPS cells over several weeks, as they spontaneously form four concentric zones. Each of these zones exhibits the characteristics of a different part of the eye, including the cornea, the lens, and the retina.

During the trial phase of their experiment, the Japanese team managed to culture and grow sheaths of rabbit corneas that actually enabled blind animals to see again. In tests, lab-grown corneas were given to rabbits born without this crucial part of the eye, resulting in restored vision. The biologist is of the opinion that within three years, humans may be able to overcome blindness by way of stem-cell-grown corneas and perhaps even other eye components.

This research shows that various types of human stem cells are able to take on the characteristics of the cornea, lens, and retina. Importantly, it demonstrates that one cell type — the corneal epithelium — could be further grown in the lab and then transplanted onto a rabbit’s eye where it was functional, achieving recovered vision.

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