The majority of clinical blindness is caused by a loss of transparency of the lens and cornea, largely due to cataracts and corneal injuries. The most common treatment used to restore the transparency is surgical removal of the damaged tissues, followed by transplantation of donated corneal tissue or an artificial lens. However, these therapies are not without limitations or untoward effects. Unraveling the intricate regulatory signals required for cornea and lens development has made it possible to harness the lineage growth potential of stem cells for cornea repair and lens regeneration, as showcased in two recent studies published in the March 17th issue of Nature.