07.11.2025

Millions of people worldwide suffer from corneal damage that can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness. Researchers from Empa and partner institutions are developing a transparent, biocompatible corneal implant created by 3D printing. This self-adhesive hydrogel could replace donor tissue and support natural healing of the eye.

Image: A scientist in a white lab coat works with laboratory equipment; Copyright: Empa

Empa researcher works with 3D-printing technology to develop a transparent hydrogel-based corneal implant for patients with vision impairment.

Products and exhibitors on this topic

Exhibitors and products related to this topic can be found in the database of COMPAMED:

Further exciting articles from the COMPAMED-tradefair.com editorial team:

Corneal injuries and infections are among the leading causes of vision loss. The cornea, the eye’s transparent outermost layer, is only about 500 to 600 micrometers thick, yet essential for clear sight. When damaged, this delicate tissue often requires a corneal transplant, but available donor tissue is scarce, only around 100,000 procedures are performed annually, far fewer than needed.

A research team from Empa – the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, the University of Zurich, the Zurich Veterinary Hospital, and Radboud University in the Netherlands is addressing this problem. They are developing a biocompatible, self-adhesive corneal implant that could eliminate the need for tissue donations and minimize the risk of immune rejection.

“The basis for the implant is a biocompatible hydrogel made of collagen and hyaluronic acid,” says Markus Rottmar from Empa’s Biointerfaces lab in St. Gallen.

Tailor-made with 3D bioprinting

The implant is designed using 3D extrusion bioprinting, a technique that allows precise customization of the artificial cornea to match each patient’s unique corneal curvature. This approach ensures optimal fit and visual clarity. Additives in the hydrogel provide the biomechanical stability needed for long-term durability, maintaining transparency and flexibility under natural eye movements.

In future research stages, the team plans to incorporate human stem cells from the eye into the hydrogel, enabling the implant to stimulate tissue regeneration and promote natural healing.

Shorter operations, fewer complications

Because the artificial cornea adheres on its own, it requires no surgical stitches. This feature could reduce operation time, lower the risk of infection, and prevent post-operative scarring or inflammation, common complications after conventional transplants.

The ultimate goal of the project is to restore vision to people worldwide who currently lack access to corneal tissue. The development was made possible thanks to a donation from a private foundation supporting the initiative.

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Empa

More about EMPA at: www.empa.ch/en