In a small but intriguing study, scientists in England have given blind patients some functional vision, using human embryonic stem cells. Two blind patients regained enough sight to read again after getting stem cell implants in their damaged eyes.

A freak accident on the job nearly cost industrial machinist Jeff Strayer his vision. Thanks to quick action by his coworkers, the almost-magical properties of placenta tissue, and a skilled ophthalmologist, the 53-year-old is back to work and seeing 20/20.

News reports have been circulating about an unusual number of ocular melanoma cases centered around Huntersville, N.C., and Auburn, Ala. But it’s not yet clear if there really is any connection between these cases.

In a first, scientists in China have created artificial photoreceptors to help blind mice see. We still don't have a full artificial eye. But we're edging closer, thanks to a wave of new technologies aiming to fix failing eye parts with human-made versions.