Scientists have grown human retina from stem cells in an experiment which will give hope to hundreds of thousands of patients with macular degeneration.

The breakthrough， which involved growing tissue in a pertri-dish， could restore sight in people suffering from a variety of retinal diseases， according to academics from John Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Researchers were able to grow a light-sensitive retina by taking adult stem cells and re-programming them back to an embryonic state.

Lead scientist Dr Valeria Canto-Soler， said: \"We have basically created a miniature human retina in a dish that not only has the architectural organisation of the retina but also has the ability to sense light.\"

\"The work advances opportunities for vision-saving research and may ultimately lead to technologies that restore vision in people with retinal diseases.\"