For years, people with damaged corneas had to rely on either corrective lenses, donor corneas or invasive surgeries. But, all that is about to change! Scientists have created the world’s first flawless artificial cornea.

What is the cornea?

The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. The cornea helps in focusing light onto the retina, which then sends the image to the brain. It plays a crucial role in determining how well we see.

If the cornea is damaged, our vision is affected.

The challenge of creating an artificial cornea

The cornea has a complex structure. It is made up of five distinct layers, each with its unique composition and function. The most critical layer is the stroma, which makes up 90% of the cornea’s thickness.

The stroma is crucial in giving the cornea its shape and transparency. Creating an artificial cornea that accurately mimics the structure and function of the natural cornea has always been a challenging task.

How was the artificial cornea created?

The breakthrough in creating the artificial cornea came from a team of scientists at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. They used a combination of synthetic collagen and human corneal stromal cells to create a 3D printable scaffold.

The scientists then used a technique called “photolithography” to print the scaffold into a cornea-like shape, with tiny laser beams used to build up the cornea layer by layer.

What are the benefits of the artificial cornea?

The artificial cornea offers a range of benefits. Firstly, it solves the problem of a shortage of donor corneas. According to the World Health Organization, there are around 10 million people worldwide in need of corneal transplants.

However, the availability of donor corneas is limited, and many people have to wait for years before getting a transplant. The artificial cornea eliminates the need for donors, thereby reducing the waiting time.

Secondly, the artificial cornea is customizable. The use of 3D printing technology allows the creation of a cornea that matches each person’s unique curvature. This customization ensures better vision outcomes and fewer complications after surgery.

Thirdly, the artificial cornea does not require anti-rejection medications. Since the cornea has no blood supply, it is less likely that the body will reject it.

Traditional cornea transplants require the recipient to take immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection.

The future of artificial corneas

The creation of the artificial cornea is just one of the many advancements happening in the field of ophthalmology.

Scientists are working on developing smart contact lenses that offer vision correction and also monitor biomarkers in tears to detect diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma early.

Artificial intelligence is also being used to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and the effectiveness of treatments.

The Bottom Line

The creation of the artificial cornea is a remarkable achievement that offers hope to millions of people worldwide who suffer from vision loss due to corneal damage.

The benefits of the artificial cornea are numerous, and the technology behind it is continually evolving. With the advancements in 3D printing, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, we can expect more breakthroughs in the field of ophthalmology in the near future.