To show the first half of neurulation just before the closure of the neuropores, the first sequence shows the development of an embryo between the 16th and 22nd day in 3D. In the 22nd day, the neural tube is rotated toward the spectator to show the anterior neuropore. After describing the exposed structures, the neuropore is cut frontally. The optic grooves, lens epithelium, areas of fusion, surface ectoderm, undifferentiated mesenchyme and wall of forebrain (neuroectoderm) are shown. Then, all structures are erased from the diagram except for this section. The next sequence shows the separation of the neuroectoderm from the surface epithelium in a 24-day-old embryo.

Then, the animation returns to the 22nd day of development to show the closure of the anterior neuropore as viewed in 3D. The resulting structure, i.e. the future head of the embryo of an approximately 25-day-old embryo, is cut into three planes in order to show the forebrain with optic vesicles, optic stalks, the third ventricle, hyaloid arteries and the surface ectoderm in section and in 3D.

The next sequence starts on the same day and shows the growth of the optic vesicles, optic stalks and the hyaloid arteries. Simultaneously, the transformation of the lens epithelium into the lens placode is also animated for an approximately 27-day-old embryo. The growth continues in an approximately 29-day-old embryo, where the optic vesicles start to invaginate. The prolife image shows the invagination of the lens placode into the central invagination of the optic vesicle. The hyaloid arteries penetrate the corresponding choroid fissures.

In an approximately 33-day-old embryo, the development of the optic cup and its outer and inner layer and the intraretinal space are shown. The lens vesicle is almost within the central invagination of the optic cup. The next sequence ends with an approximately 6-week-old embryo and shows the optic cup and its layers as well as the lens vesicle within its central cavity. The optic stalks lengthen, while the choroid artery (shown in section) reaches the lens.

To show the evolution of the optic cup, the next sequence frames the optic cup for a 6-week-old embryo, moves it o the centre of the screen, cuts it on the medial plane, and magnifies it. The first diagram, depicting the 6th and 7th weeks, describes the structure of the optic cup, lens vesicle, optic stalk, and eye primordium. The next sequence animates the development of the retina and lens along with their layers, the growth of optic fibres towards the optic stalk, the mesenchymal condensation around the eye primordium as well as the formation of eyelids.

The growth of the eye is shown from a 7- to 15-week-old fetus with more than 30 details described.

Special attention is paid to the formation of the optic nerve, cornea, sclera, iris, iridopupillary membrane, ciliary body, suspensory ligament, eyelids, anterior and posterior chambers and the partially obliterated hyaloid artery. The complete obliteration of this artery is accomplished in the eye of a 7-month-old fetus. In this stage, the lamina cribrosa, organized nerve fibre layer, zonular fibrils, pupilla, central artery of the retina and the Schlemm's canal appear.

The development of the retina, iris and cornea in an approximately 6-week-old embryo start with the histogenesis of the retina . A segment of the optic cup is framed and magnified. The diagram details the histologic structure of the future retina as seen in an approximately 6-week-old embryo. The neural layer (comprised of the mantle and proliferative layers), the intraretinal space, and the pigment layer are shown with the internal and external limiting membranes. The primary vitreous body and mesenchymal cells outside of the optic cup are also shown.

In an 9-week-old fetus, the multiplication of nerve cells in the proliferative layer form outer and inner granular layers within the mantle layer.

In an 18-month-old fetus, differentiation of the nerve cells of the former mantle layer gives rise to photoreceptors, horizontal, amacrine, M�ller -and ganglion cells . The cells of the pigment layer make contact with the blood capillaries of the choroid. Finally, the synthesis of collagen fibrils by fibrocytes forms the sclera.

The gradual establishment of the structure of the retina, choroid and sclera is shown in an approximately 25-week-old fetus. Two successive diagrams at the end of the last sequence detail the stratification and cytoarchitectonics of the above-mentioned eye layers.

In order to animate the development of the iris and ciliary body, the anterior segment of the optic cup in an approximately 6-week-old embryo is cut out and magnified. The diagram shows anterior segments of the optic cup and lens as well as the cranial ectodermal fold. For a 6- and 8-week-old embryo, formation of the pars caeca retinae, cornea, iridopupillary membrane, choroid, sclera, conjunctival sac, superior eyelid is animated along with numerous other structures.

In an approximately 16-week-old fetus, the ciliary body appears with the processus ciliares, ciliary muscle, pars ciliaris retinae. In the same period, the pars iridica retinae appears, the iridopupillary membrane disappears, and the stratification of the cornea form with the Schlemm's canal. The final anatomic situation is shown for an approximately 20-week-old fetus. The final diagram contains more than 20 legends. One animated sequence is dedicated the circulation of the aqueous humor in the same developmental stage.

The development of the lens starts with a 4-week-old embryo under low magnification. The gradual transformation of the lens placode into the lens vesicle and its penetration into the optic cup is animated successively in a 6- and 7-week-old embryo. In order to show the cytoarchitectonical evolution of the lens vesicle, it is magnified and animated beginning with a 6-week-old embryo. The differentiation of the posterior epithelium of the lens vesicle into the primary lens fibres as well as the reduction of layers of the anterior wall of the lens vesicle in a simple cuboidal epithelium is shown in a 15-week old fetus. From this stage through birth, changes within the lens structure are illustrated, including the appearance of the lens capsule, zonular fibrils, obliteration, the disappearance of the hyaloid artery, the appearance of the secondary lens fibres and the formation of the central core of lens. The transformation of the primary vitreous body into the secondary vitreous body as well as its delimitation by a capsule is also shown.

A diagram of the head of an approximately 5-week-old embryo illustrates the development of the optic nerve . The lens placode, visible beside the pharyngeal arches, is cut and moved to show the development of the underlying optic vesicle in 3D under high magnification.

The growth and invagination of the optic cup as well as the lengthening of the optic stalk are shown. The presence of the hyaloid vessels within the choroid fissure is highlighted in an approximately 6-week-old embryo. In an approximately 7-week-old embryo, the growth of the optic cup, the closure of the choroid fissure and the transformation of the optic stalk into the optic nerve are depicted.

In order to show the transformation of the optic stalk into the optic nerve, the optic stalk of an approximately 6-week-old embryo is cut transversally and slightly magnified. The choroid fissure with choroid vessels, outer and inner layers of the optic stalk, its lumen and the mesenchymal sheath around the optic stalk are shown. In an embryo at the end of the 6th week, optic nerve fibres appear in the inner layer of the optic stalk, and the choroid fissure with hyaloid vessels stepwise closes. This process is more pronounced in an embryo at the end of the 6th week.

The next sequence shows the accumulation and thickening of optic nerve fibres in the inner layer of the optic stalk. Both hyaloid vessels are situated within this layer. The lumen of the optic stalk narrows, and the condensed mesenchyme surrounds the optic stalk. An approximately 9-week-old embryo shows the development of the definitive structure of the optic nerve, which includes the glial membrane separating the optic nerve from the pia mater, the optic nerve fibres, hyaloid vessels transformed into the central vessels of the retina and the condensed mesenchyme transformed into meninges.

The development of the eyelids begins with the head of a 5-week-old embryo shown in 3D. A 7-week-old embryo illustrates the migration of the eyes from the lateral side of the head to the front and the development of the eyelid primordia. The delimitation of the eyelids becomes more pronounced in an approximately 9-week-old fetus. The upper and the lower eyelids fuse. In an approximately 6-month-old fetus, the eyelids open.

To show the development of the internal eyelid structure, the fused eyelids of an approximately 9-week-old fetus are magnified, and their epitelium covers are removed. The nasolacrimal epithelial cord, limit of the conjunctival sac and the limit of the orbita become visible. An approximately 12-week-old fetus shows the growth of epithelial sprouts, which give rise to Meibomian glands, the appearance of epithelial buds that form the lacrimal canaliculi, nasolacrimal epithelial cord that develops the nasolarimal duct, epitelial buds for the future lacrimal glans, and condensed mesenchyme as the precursor of the tarsal plates. The last sequence ends with an approximately 6-month-old fetus, whose eyelid structure corresponds to that of an adult. It includes the nasolacrimal duct, lacrimal sac, lacrimal canaliculi, Meibomian glands, tarsal plates and lacrimal gland. The development of palpebral muscles is not shown.

The following malformations of the eye are shown in the form of non-animated diagrams: anophtalmia, congenital aphakia, congenital cataract, presistent hyalod vessels and microphthalmia. The following malformations are shown in animated diagrams that are compared with normal development: cyclopia, coloboma, and persistent iridopupillary membrane.

(This animation is essential for students of medicine, stomatology, veterinary medicine and biology as well as for departments of anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology and cell biology; it is also recommended for departments or clinics of ophthalmology and brain research institutes.)