Long-term research investments yield human health advancements
Updates on basic and clinical NEI-supported research
Current items in print and broadcast media
Turning scientific discoveries into treatments
Retinal Foliage A 3D view of a retinal ganglion cell: a nerve cell that relays light signals from the eye to the brain. Courtesy of Wei Li, NEI Unit on Retinal Neurophysiology
Regenerating Wires New neurons (green) and astrocytes (red), created in a petri dish from stem cells, which may one day help doctors rewire optic nerves damaged by glaucoma. Courtesy of Thomas V. Johnson, Naoki Nakaya, and Stanislav Tomarev, NEI Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Glaucoma Section
Retinal Relay Photoreceptor cells (blue) in the retina convert light entering our eyes into nerve cell signals sent to bipolar cells (red & green). Bipolar cells relay the signals to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs, purple), which send them the brain. Some RGCs also convert light into nerve signals. Courtesy of Wei Li, NEI Unit on Retinal Neurophysiology