A team of scientists led by Botond Roska at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel worked together with other researchers to find ways to keep cone cells safe. Cone cells help us see colors and fine details, and they are often damaged by eye diseases like age‑related macular degeneration.
Testing Thousands of Compounds in Lab‑Made Eyes
The researchers tried more than 2,700 different chemicals on 20,000 tiny eye‑like structures called retinal organoids. They learned two important things:
- Some chemicals actually hurt cone cells, showing that not every drug is safe for the eye.
- Several other chemicals helped cone cells stay alive, even when they were stressed.
- Blocking a protein called casein kinase 1 was especially good at protecting the cells.
To see how the cells reacted, the scientists marked the cone cells with a special label. This let them watch the cells over time while they added stress that mimics disease.
Key Protective Strategy
Two drugs that block certain enzymes, known as kinase inhibitors, kept the cone cells alive for a long time. The same protection worked in a mouse model of eye degeneration, suggesting the results could apply to people too.
The team also shared a complete list of every chemical they tested, what each one targets, and how it affected cone cell survival. This data set will help other scientists design safer eye medicines and check for eye toxicity early on.
Moving Toward Safer Vision
By mixing knowledge of eye biology, organoid technology, and large‑scale drug testing, this work gives a solid base for new treatments. It moves the field closer to a long‑standing goal: protecting the cells that let us see.