A sixth layer of the cornea has been identified and named after the scientist who discovered it.
The breakthrough, announced by The University of Nottingham last week, was expected to improve outcomes for patients undergoing corneal grafts and transplants.
Professor Harminder Dua, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the university, had the extra layer named after him as the findings were published in Ophthalmology.
Dua's layer adds to the previously identified corneal epithelium, Bowman's layer, the corneal stroma, Descemet's membrane and the corneal endothelium.
Professor Dua said: 'This is a major discovery that will mean that ophthalmology textbooks will literally need to be re-written. Having identified this new and distinct layer deep in the tissue of the cornea, we can now exploit its presence to make operations much safer and simpler for patients.
'From a clinical perspective, there are many diseases that affect the back of the cornea which clinicians across the world are already beginning to relate to the presence, absence or tear in this layer.'
The findings could also advance understanding of diseases of the cornea including acute hydrops, descematocele and pre-Descemet's dystrophies, a statement said.
Following the discovery it is now believed corneal hydrops - a sudden clouding of the stroma - is caused by a tear in the Dua's layer, through which water from inside the eye rushes in and causes water-logging.
Researchers found the Dua's layer located at the back of the cornea between the stroma and Descemet's membrane. It was measured as 15 microns thick but strong enough to be able to withstand one and a half to two bars of pressure.
Existence of the layer was found by simulating human corneal transplants and grafts on eyes donated for research purposes to eye banks in Bristol and Manchester. Tiny bubbles of air were injected into the cornea to gently separate the different layers, before the scientists subjected these layers to electron microscopy.