Researchers were amazed when stem cells in a test tube spontaneously organised themselves into a complex structure that resembles the developing embryonic eye.
The surprising development could lead eventually to whole retinas being cultured and then transplanted, restoring sight in the blind and visually impaired.
The team from the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan, first cultivated embryonic stem cells in a test tube and then added proteins to trigger them into developing.
They hoped that they would form a recognisable organ but were still stunned when over 10 days they clustered together and began to grow the "optical cup" of a retina.
Tests showed that the cells were functioning normally and were capable of communicating with each other.
The research was done on mouse eyes, but there is no reason why a similar technique would not work on humans, said the experts.
They hope that within 10 years to be able to start clinical trials on retina implants.
"This is an absolutely stunning achievement," said Professor Robin Ali, an ophthalmologist at University College London.
"It is a landmark not just for the retina but for regenerative medicine as a whole."
More than a million people in Britain suffer from vision problems caused by a damaged or malfunctioning retinas.
The retina is the "business end" of the eye, where nerve cells convert light into electrical and chemical signals that are sent to the brain down the optic nerve.
If it is not working then the eye is useless.
Professor Yoshiki Sasai, lead author said: "What we've been able to do in this study is resolve a nearly century-old problem in embryology, by showing that retinal precursors have the inherent ability to give rise to the complex structure of the optic cup."
Read more at The Telegraph
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