HEALTH
Scientists develop a ‘crying’ model of human eye tissue
WORDS EMILY COOKE
The scientists behind the new model hope it will aid research into some of the most common eye conditions
© Getty / ESA; Hubble & NASA, A. Filippenko / NASA
Scientists have created the first 3D model of the human conjunctiva, the clear protective outer membrane of the eye, in the lab, and it even produces its own tears. The researchers say the new model could be used to study diseases that affect millions of people, such as conjunctivitis. The replica conjunctiva is an ‘organoid’, a lab-grown mass of cells made to resemble 3D, miniature versions of full-size tissues in the body. Organoids are typically grown from stem cells and enable scientists to recreate the structure and function of human organs. Because of this, the models are emerging as promising alternatives to using animals for drug testing.