Swiss Scientists Use 3D Printing to Create Personalized Corneas

A team of Swiss researchers at Empa, together with the University of Zurich, Zurich Veterinary Hospital, and Radboud University in the Netherlands, is developing a transparent, biocompatible corneal implant produced using 3D printing technology. The implant is designed to repair damaged corneas permanently without relying on donor tissue, offering new possibilities for millions affected by vision impairment worldwide.

The cornea, a 500 to 600-micrometer-thin tissue, acts as the eye’s outermost protective layer. Damage from infection, injury, or malformation can result in partial or complete vision loss. Currently, only around 100,000 corneal transplants are performed globally each year due to the limited availability of donor tissue, leaving the majority of patients untreated.

Hien Le is one of the lead researchers working on the artificial cornea. (Photo Credit: Empa)

To address this shortage, the Swiss-led research team is developing a self-adhesive artificial cornea made from hydrogel composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The implant is produced using 3D extrusion bioprinting, which allows the shape and curvature to be customized precisely to each patient’s eye. Additives in the hydrogel provide the necessary biomechanical stability to protect the eye while maintaining transparency.