Using high-resolution live imaging in zebrafish, we show that presumptive eye cells acquire apicobasal polarity and adopt neuroepithelial character prior to other regions of the neural plate. Neuroepithelial organization is first apparent at the margin of the eye field, whereas cells at its core have mesenchymal morphology. These core cells subsequently intercalate between the marginal cells contributing to the bilateral expansion of the optic vesicles. During later evagination, optic vesicle cells shorten, drawing their apical surfaces laterally relative to the basal lamina, resulting in further laterally directed evagination. The early neuroepithelial organization of the eye field requires Laminin1, and ectopic Laminin1 can redirect the apicobasal orientation of eye field cells. Furthermore, disrupting cell polarity through combined abrogation of the polarity protein Pard6γb and Laminin1 severely compromises optic vesicle evagination. Our studies elucidate the cellular events underlying early eye morphogenesis and provide a framework for understanding epithelialization and complex tissue formation. •Live imaging reveals cellular behaviors during optic vesicle evagination•Eye field cells acquire apicobasal polarization prior to other neural cells•Laminin1 is required for the epithelial organization of basal eye field cells•Mesenchymal-like core eye field cells intercalate into the basal epithelium By performing high-resolution live-imaging experiments in zebrafish, Ivanovitch et al. resolve the dynamic cell behaviors underlying optic vesicle formation. The first event in this process is Laminin1-dependent epithelialization of cells at the margin of the eye field. Subsequent epithelial remodeling and cell intercalation events shape the evaginating optic vesicles.