Artificial Human Cornea 3D-Printed in the UK

Scientists at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom have successfully created an artificial human cornea using 3D printing technology, potentially paving the way for future corneal transplants. This breakthrough was reported by the Financial Times, citing a study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research.

The cornea is the strongest lens in the eye’s optical system. If it becomes damaged—due to injury or diseases such as trachoma—vision can deteriorate, and complete blindness may result. Currently, the only solution is often a transplant using a healthy cornea from a deceased donor. However, there is a constant shortage of donor corneas. According to the World Health Organization, 10 million people worldwide are in need of corneal transplants.

How the Artificial Cornea Was Created

The artificial cornea was developed by Newcastle University researchers Steve Swioklo and Che Connon. To create the ideal “ink” for 3D printing the artificial cornea, the scientists used a mixture of collagen, sodium alginate, and a small number of stem cells—specifically, keratocytes extracted from donor corneas. While this new method does not completely eliminate the need for donor corneas, it can significantly reduce their usage: cells from just one donor cornea can be used to print up to 50 artificial corneas. Additionally, these corneas can be customized to match the unique structure of each patient’s eye. The first prototype was printed using a 3D model of a volunteer’s eye.

Next Steps and Future Prospects

The researchers now plan to test the artificial corneas on animals. They hope that within five years, these corneas will be ready for transplantation into humans.

Last year, a team of Finnish and Polish scientists created an artificial diaphragm that responds to light almost like the human iris.