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The cure for blindness could just be in a chemical injection into the eye, claim scientists.

According to a latest research, the chemical called AAQ works by making normally 'blind' cells in the retina sensitive to light, reports the Telegraph. 

During the experiment, scientists in the US could restore vision in congenially blind mice and they hope that an improved version of the chemical could possibly cure inherited and age-related forms of blindness in people. 

The mice for the experiment were ones with genetic mutations and went blind just months after birth.

When the mice were injected with AAQ in small amounts, the animal's vision was found to be restored to a certain level of light sensitivity. The scientists could find pupil contraction when exposed to light and it also showed signs of light avoidance, according to the report.

''The advantage ... is that it is a simple chemical, which means that you can change the dosage, you can use it in combination with other therapies, or you can discontinue the therapy if you don't like the results,'' study leader Professor Richard Kramer, from the University of California at Berkeley, was quoted by Telegraph. 

''As improved chemicals become available, you could offer them to patients. You can't do that when you surgically implant a chip or after you genetically modify somebody," he added.

''This is a major advance in the field of vision restoration," co-author, Dr Russell Van Gelder, from the University of Washington added. 

The study was published in the journal Neuron.