Embryology of the Eye

Neuroepithelium

Lens
Placode

Prosencephalon
[diencephalon]

Optic
Vesicle
Mandibular Arch

B
View B

Med 6573: Nervous System

University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth
Donna J. Forbes, Ph.D.
29 February 2008

References
Moore & Persaud, Chapter 19, pages 492 - 503
Nolte: Chapter 17, pages 411 - 412
Dr. Downings Histology of the Eye

Learning Objectives
Optic Cup: Relationship to diencephalon &
to lens placode during development
Origin and Formation of the:
Optic Nerve & Retina
Iris & Ciliary Body
Lens
Choroid, Sclera & Cornea

Inductive influences involved in the

development of the eye.
Congenital malformations of the eye

Critical Period for

Development of the Eyes

Middle of Week 4 to Middle of

Week 8, but continues to birth

Neuroepithelium
[AKA Neuroectoderm]

Neuroectoderm of the
Prosencephalon

Prosencephalon
[diencephalon]

Lens
Placode

(Diencephalon)

Optic
Vesicle

Optic Grooves

Optic Vesicles

Optic Cups

Mandibular Arch

Retina
Optic Nerve
Ciliary Body
Iris

Eye Development
Optic Grooves
Optic Vesicles

22 days

Optic Cups
Neuroepithelium

Prosencephalon
[diencephalon]

28 days

Lens
Placode
Optic
Vesicle
Mandibular Arch

32 days

M & P 19 - 1

Eye Development
Optic Nerve, Optic or
Choroid Fissure & Lens
22 days

Neuroepithelium

Prosencephalon
[diencephalon]

28 days

Lens
Placode
Optic
Vesicle
Mandibular Arch

32 days

M & P 19 - 1

Eye Development
Optic Nerve & Optic or
Choroid Fissure cont.
22 days

Neuroepithelium

Next slide

Prosencephalon
[diencephalon]

28 days

Lens
Placode
Optic
Vesicle
Mandibular Arch

32 days

M & P 19 - 1

Closure of the Optic Fissure & Formation of the Optic Nerve

Optic Fissure
Pupil
Hyaloid vessels
Optic Nerve (ON)
Sheath of ON

Edges of the
pupil

M & P 19 - 3

Retina, Ciliary Body, Iris, Lens

Mesenchyme

The following slides look at each of these derivatives.

M & P 19 - 8

Retina: forms from the two layers of the optic cup

Developing pigment
epithelium of the
retina [from outer
layer of optic cup]

Developing neural layer of

the retina [from inner layer of
optic cup]

Outer layer of optic cup >>

pigment layer of retina

Intraretinal
space

Inner layer of optic cup >>

neural layer of retina.
Intraretinal Space
B

A
Hyaloid
artery of
retina

Neural layer
of the retina

Mesenchyme

Pigment
epithelium of
the retina

Central
artery of
retina

Ora Serrata = junction of

neural retina with ciliary
Ora serrata located
body.
about here
Hyaloid artery & vein >>
Central artery & vein of
retina.

D
Note: Intraretinal space is eliminated by fusion of the
pigment layer with the neural layer of the retina.

Retina

Outer layer
of optic cup

Optic
Cup

Mesenchyme

Lens
Pit

Optic Vesicle

Lens
Vesicle

Diencephalon

Inner layer of
optic cup

Intraretinal
space
3.5 wks

5 wks

4 wks
Neural layer
of the retina

Lens

6 wks

Lens

6.5 wks

Lens

Pigment
epithelium
layer of the
retina

8 wks

Ciliary Body & Iris

Develop from the inner & outer layers of the optic cup -anterior to the ora serrata.
Mesenchyme

Lens

Lens

Ora serrata located

about here

Ciliary Body

Iris
Lens
Lens
Iris

Central artery
of retina

D
NEXT
SLIDE

Ciliary Body
[= processes + muscle]

se
me

From
mesenchyme

e
ym
nch

Anterior chamber

Primary
(posterior)
lens fibers

Posterior
chamber

Ciliary
epithelium
[pigmented &
non-pigmented

Anterior lens
fibers

Pigmented & non-pigmented layers of ciliary epithelium that cover the ciliary processes
develop from the outer & inner layers, respectively, of the optic cup.

Ciliary muscle (smooth muscle) develops from surrounding mesenchyme.

Iris

e
hym
c
n
se
me

From
neuroectoderm
Anterior chamber

Primary
(posterior)
lens fibers

Anterior lens
fibers

Posterior
chamber

STROMAL
LAYER OF IRIS

Epithelial layer forms from the most rostral aspect of optic cup; 2 cell layers thick; posterior side of iris;
blue pigment
Stromal or connective tissue layer forms from mesenchyme; anterior side of iris; brown pigment
Sphincter & Dilator muscles of the pupil develop within the stromal layer of the iris from neuroectoderm of
the optic cup.

Differentiation of the Lens

Lumen
within the
Lens
Vesicle

Mesenchyme

Lens
Pit

Optic Vesicle
Diencephalon

Area of the
Lens
Placode
3.5 wks

Anterior
layer of
the Lens

5 wks

4 wks

Lens

Lens

Remnants of
hyaloid
vessels
Posterior
layer of
the Lens
6 wks

6.5 wks

Note that
lumen
disappears

8 wks

Aqueous Chambers & Vitreous Body

Mesenchyme

Future Anterior
chamber

Anterior
chamber
[aqueous
humor]

Irido-pupillary
membrane

Posterior
chamber
[aqueous
humor]

Posterior
chamber
[aqueous
humor]
Irido-pupillary
membrane

Anterior
chamber
[aqueous
humor]

Central artery
of retina
Hyaloid
artery

Vitreous
body

Hyaloid
canal

Choroid & Sclera

Mesenchyme

Vascular plexus
of the choroid
layer

Sclera

Sheath of the
optic nerve

Choroid and Sclera form from surrounding mesenchyme.

Inner layer is the vascular & pigmented CHOROID. Comparable to pia-arachnoid.

Outer layer is the tough SCLERA. Comparable to dura. Continuous with the sheath of the
optic nerve, posteriorly.

Cornea & Conjunctiva

Mesenchyme

Surface
Ectoderm

3 layers of the
cornea

Epithelium
Stroma
Endothelium

Three layers of the cornea & conjunctiva form at the most anterior aspect of the eye.
SURFACE ECTODERM induced by lens to form the EPITHELIUM of the cornea & conjunctivum.
STROMA is derived from mesenchyme.
ENDOTHELIUM forms from the mesenchymal lining of the anteior chamber.

Cornea

Epithelium
Stroma
Endothelium

Mesenchyme

Eyelids
Surface
Ectoderm
Eyelids fused
by Wk 10

Transverse folds of surface

ectoderm + mesenchyme
begin to form in Week 6.

Muscles & Nerves of the Eyelids:

Skeletal muscle
Orbicularis oculi (2nd arch; facial, SVE)
Levator palpebrae superioris (pre-otic
myotomes; oculomotor, GSE)
Smooth muscle
Superior tarsal (mesenchyme;
sympathetics, GVE)

Eyelids re-opened
by ~26 wks.

Congenital Cataract

Balloon-Like Congenital Cataract

Lens becomes opaque during intrauterine life.

Etiologies:
Rubella infection of mom at 4 - 7 wks gestation
Hereditary
Malnutrition
Chromosomal abnormalities
Radiation
Galactosemia

Congenital Familial Central Cataract

Detached Retina
Iris of right eye
Retina

Iris of right eye

Disruption of the adhesion between the neural and pigmented layers of the retina.
These examples in the adult.
During development, congenital detached retina appears to be:
due to failure of the retinal layers to fuse and obliterate the intraretinal space.
caused by unequal growth of the eye.

Congenital Ptosis
Iris of right eye
Retina

A.

Disturbed development of the levator palpebrae

Iris of right eye
superioris and/or its oculomotor (GSE) innervation.

B.

Surgically corrected

C.

Autosomal dominant trait

Congenital Coloboma
Retina of right eye
Iris of right eye

Defective closure of the choroid or optic fissure

Position: infero-nasal quadrant reflective of the
location of the optic fissure during development
Iris of right eye

Iris of right eye