Development of Eye

Made by: Roll no. 1-8

Guided by: Dr. Prabhat Kumar
Pal
 EMBRYOLOGICAL TIMELINE OF
EYE DEVELOPMENT
•Week 3: Induction of the neural plate​
•Week 4: Formation of optic vesicles​
•Week 5: Formation of optic cup and Induction of lens
placode​
 PRIMORDIA FORMING OCCULAR STRUCTURES
Primordia from which eyeball and it’s related structures are derived include:

• Optic vesicle, an outgrowth from

prosencephalon.
• Lens placode, a specialized area of
surface ectoderm.
• Mesenchyme surrounds the optic vesicle.
FORMATION OF OPTIC
VESICLE AND OPTIC STALK
Thickening of neural plate

Becomes depressed to form the optic

sulcus

Formation of prosencephalic vesicle.

The sulcus bulge out to form the optic vesicle

The proximal part of the optic vesicle becomes constricted and

elongated to form the optic stalk.
Formation of Lens Vesicle
Process:
• The optic vesicle grows laterally and contacts the surface ectoderm.
• The overlying surface ectoderm thickens, forming the lens placode.
• The lens placode sinks below the surface and transforms into the lens vesicle.
• By day 33 of gestation, the lens vesicle separates from the surface ectoderm.
Formation of Optic Cup
Process:

• The optic vesicle becomes a double-

layered optic cup.

• The margins of the optic cup grow over

the upper and lateral sides of the lens,
enclosing it.

• Inferior part remains deficient, forming the

choroidal (fetal) fissure.
Changes in the Associated Mesenchyme

• Mesenchyme: Undifferentiated connective tissue from

mesoderm & neural crest cells.

• Role in Eye Development:

• Surrounds the developing neural tube, later forming

meninges.

• Covers the optic vesicle and differentiates into:

• Superficial fibrous layer (dura equivalent).

• Deeper vascular layer (pia-arachnoid
equivalent).
Fibrous Layer of Mesenchyme
Forms:
• Corneal stroma (anterior part).
• Sclera & extraocular muscles (posterior part).
Vascular Layer of Mesenchyme
Forms:
Hyaloid system of vessels:
• Enters the optic cup through the
choroidal fissure.
• Forms the hyaloid vascular system.

Iridopupillary membrane:

• Peripheral part → Iris.

• Central part → Pupillary membrane &
tunica vasculosa lentis.
• Choroid & Ciliary Body: Derived from
the posterior vascular layer of
mesenchyme.
 Retina
Development
•• Develops from optic cup
•Two layers:

• Nervous Retina (Inner wall): Forms visual

components
• Matrix Layer → Rods & Cones

• Mantle Layer → Bipolar, ganglion, & other

neurons
• Marginal Layer → Ganglion cell axons (nerve
fiber layer)
• Pigment Epithelium (Outer wall): Forms retinal
epithelium
•Posterior part → Pigmented retina

•Anterior part → Continues into ciliary body & iris

 Optic Nerve
Development
•D evelops from optic stalk framework
•O ptic nerve fi bers originate from the retina’s nerve fiber
layer
•G rowth through choroidal fi ssure (by 6th week of gestation)
•G lial system → From neuro-ectodermal cells of optic stalk
•S heaths → Derived from mesenchyme (like CNS meninges)
•M yelination:
•S tarts from the brain
•Reaches lamina cribrosa at birth
•M ay extend to optic disc (causing congenital opaque fibers)
•C omplete development occurs after birth
Crystalline Lens
Development
•Origin: Surface ectoderm → Lens placode →
Lens vesicle

•Primary Lens Fibers:

•Posterior lens vesicle cells elongate

•Obliterate lens vesicle cavity

•Form embryonic nucleus (by 3rd month of

gestation)

•Secondary Lens Fibers:

•Develop from equatorial cells of anterior

epithelium

•Active throughout life

•Grow in concentric layers → Laminated

appearance
 CORNEA
1. Epithelium is formed from the surface ectoderm.
2.Other layers are derived from the fibrous layer of mesenchyme
lying anterior to the optic cup.

SCLERA
Sclera is developed from the fibrous layer of
mesenchyme surrounding the optic cup.
 CHOROID
•Choroid is derived from the inner vascular layer
Of mesenchyme that surrounds the optic cup.

CILIARY BODY
•The two layers of epithelium of the ciliary body develop from the
anterior part of the two layers of the optic cup (neuroectodermal).
•The stroma of the ciliary body, ciliary muscle, and blood vessels
are derived from the vascular layer of mesenchyme surrounding
the optic cup.
 IRIS
•Epithelium: Derived from optic cup
(neuroectoderm)
•Muscles (Sphincter & Dilator Pupillae): From
anterior epithelium (neuroectoderm)
•Stroma & Blood Vessels: From vascular
mesenchyme (anterior to optic cup)

Vitreous
•Primary Vitreous: Mesenchymal, vascular
(hyaloid system), forms at 4-5 weeks
•Secondary Vitreous: Neuroectodermal,
avascular, forms at 2 months, replaces
primary
•Tertiary Vitreous: From neuroectoderm
(ciliary region) at 3-4 months, forms
ciliary zonules
 Eyelid
Development
• - Formation by surface
ectoderm folding above
and below the cornea.
• - Lids fuse, forming the
conjunctival sac.
• - Lids separate after the
seventh month of
intrauterine life.
 Glands and Cilia
• - Tarsal glands: Develop from ectodermal cell ingrowth at lid
margins.
• - Cilia: Arise as epithelial buds from lid margins.
• - Conjunctival glands: Develop from basal cell growth in the
upper conjunctival fornix.
 Lacrimal
Apparatus
• - Lacrimal gland: Forms from
eight epithelial buds by the
end of the second fetal
month.
• - Nasolacrimal duct and
canaliculi: Develop from
ectoderm of the nasolacrimal
furrow.
• - Solid ectodermal cord
canalizes to form ducts.
 Extraocular
Muscles
• - Develop from mesodermal
condensation.
• - Likely derived from preotic
myotomes.
• - Innervated by cranial nerves
III, IV, and VI.
Development of Eyelids, Conjunctiva, and
Lacrimal Gland
SUMMARY OF OCULAR EMBRYOLOGY STRUCTURES DERIVED FROM THE
EMBRYONIC LAYERS
1. Surface ectoderm 2. Neural ectoderm
• The crystalline lens • Retina
• Epithelium of the cornea, • Epithelial layers of ciliary body, iris
conjunctiva, eyelids • Iris muscles
• Lacrimal gland and conjunctival • Optic nerve (neuroglia and nervous elements only)
glands • Ciliary zonules (tertiary vitreous).

3. Associated paraxial mesenchyme

• Blood vessels
• The sclera
• Stroma of iris
• Ciliary muscle
• Extraocular muscles
Ocular Embryonic
Embryonic Origin
Structure Primordium
Retina, Optic Nerve, Iris Neuroectoderm (Forebrain -
Optic Vesicle & Optic Cup
Muscles Diencephalon)
Lens Lens Placode Surface Ectoderm
Cornea (Epithelium) Surface Ectoderm Surface Ectoderm
Sclera, Choroid, Corneal
Neural Crest Mesenchyme Neural Crest Cells
Stroma

Neuroectoderm & Neural

Ciliary Body and Iris Stroma Optic Cup & Neural Crest
Crest Cells
Extraocular Muscles Mesodermal Mesenchyme Paraxial Mesoderm
Primary Vitreous &
Vitreous Body Neural Crest & Mesoderm
Secondary Vitreous

Surface Ectoderm & Surface Ectoderm & Neural

Eyelids
Mesenchyme Crest Cells
 Milestones in development-
Stage of growth Development

2.6 mm (3 weeks) Optic pits appear on either side of

cephalic end of forebrain.

3.5 mm (4 weeks) Primary optic vesicle invaginates.

5.5 to 6 mm Development of embryonic fissure.

10 mm (6 weeks) Retinal layers differentiate, lens

vesicle formed.

20 mm (9 weeks) Sclera, cornea and extraocular muscle,

differentiate.
25 mm (10 weeks) Lumen of optic nerve obliterated.

50 mm (3 months) Optic tracts completed, pars ciliaris

retina grows forwards, pars iridica
retina grows forward and lid folds
develop.

60 mm (4 months) Hyaloid vessels atrophy, iris

sphincter, dilator and ciliary
muscles develop.

230-265 mm (8th month) Fetal nucleus of lens is complete,

all layers of retina nearly
developed and macula starts
differentiation.

265-300 mm (9th month) Except macula, retina is fully

developed, infantile nucleus of
lens begins to appear, pupillary
membrane and hyaloid vessels
disappear. Medulation of optic
nerve reaches lamina cribrosa.
 Eye at birth
• Anteroposterior diameter of the eyeball- 16.5 mm (70% of adult size which is attained by 7-8
years).
• Corneal diameter is about 10 mm. Adult size (11.7 mm) is attained by 2 years of age.
• Anterior chamber is shallow and angle is narrow.
• Pupil is small and does not dilate fully.
• Lens is spherical at birth. Infantile nucleus is present. Lens, accomodation begins at 1
month of age, becomes more regular by 2-3 months, almost like adult by 6 months (14D-16D
at birth).
• Retina: Apart from macular area the retina is fully differentiated. Macula differentiates 4–6
months after birth.
• Myelination of optic nerve fibres has reached the lamina cribrosa.

• Refractive status: Newborn is usually hypermetropic by +2 to +3 D.

• Orbit is more divergent (50°) as compared to adult (45°).

• Lacrimal gland is still underdeveloped and tears are not secreted.

 Postnatal period
• Fixation starts developing in first month and is completed in 6 months.

• Macula is fully developed by 4–6 months.

• Fusional reflexes, stereopsis and accommodation are well developed by 4–6 months.

• Cornea attains normal adult diameter by 2 years of age.

• Lens grows throughout life.