Major advancements in technology like this one are what makes the future worth looking forward to. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have invented an artificial cornea that may well be the key to restoring sight for our people with damaged corneas.
“Our artificial corneas are based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it,” says IAP project manager Dr. Joachim Storsberg. “Once our partner Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen GmbH has suitably shaped the polymers, we selectively coat the implants: We lay masks on them and apply a special protein to the edge of the cornea, which the cells of the natural cornea can latch onto. In this way, the cornea implant can firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the center remains free of cells and therefore clear.” What is special about this protein is that it can survive the later thermal sterilization of the artificial cornea without being damaged, as it does not have the three-dimensional structure typical of large proteins. Such a structure would be destroyed during the sterilization process, leading to changes in the material’s properties. The optical front part of the implant is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, so that it is constantly moistened with tear fluid.
Researchers in Dr. Karin Kobuch’s working group at Regensburg University Hospital have already tested these corneas in the laboratory and found that their cells graft very well at the edge and cease growing where the coating stops. The optical center of the implant thus remains clear. The first implants have already been tested in rabbits’ eyes – with promising results. If further tests are successful, the technology will be tried on humans in 2008.”
October 4th, 2007 at 5:10 am
What an amazing concept. This would virtually eliminate the need for transplant corneas and allow thousands of people to see again. You have to just love science.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Wow, Thats Great !
October 10th, 2007 at 5:00 am
hello I had a cornea transplant and ıt seems as though the results are not so great… I am a 40 year old female who travels for a lıvıng..
Would thıs be somethıng that could be an optıon for me to see clearly and keep tearıng… my eys dry and cause dıscomfort. Sınce I fly ın an aırplane hours wıth cabın aır for a lıvıng? Great to hear thıs optıon eıther way great news !!!! thanks stacy
October 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!
This is great news.
October 24th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
This is a very promising technology. But I’m not too convinced. I’ve a lasik treatment years a go, and until now I still feel discomfort from time to time. Anyway, eyes are very sensitive part of human organ, and also extremely important, therefore any advancement in this area is a good news to many.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Whoa! As early as 2008? Very nice!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
We live in exciting times and it’s good to stop and (pardon the pun) focus on the positive technological advances from time to time.
Gadget Reviews
November 4th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Though this are exciting news, I rather would be not too optimistic in the very near future (2008). It takes a longer time than a few months to get such vital “inventions” approved by the governments.
Also it may take a longer time to discover side-effects.
My guess would be to have to wait 2-3 years more until such a device would be available for mass production.
November 10th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
“Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen”? Apparently, there are no German speakers here, and nobody tried to sound out the good doktor’s name.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
hi, im german.
“Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen GmbH” is the name of the company
“Dr. Schmidt” (pronounced doctor Shmitt) is probably the name of the founder.
“Intraokularlinsen†could be translatet “ineye-lenses”
i hope i could help you
December 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
wow! we can see how science can help us alot….thanks for this invention.I’m looking forward what you can do next..
December 19th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
It’s a very nice technology.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:44 am
This is cool. I have a scar running along my left eye form an earlier injury and this would help there…(sighs) now all I need is to find a way to un-paralize the interior muscles.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:04 am
i want detail explain about this technology (artificaial cornea gives hope to the blind) please help me explain about this….
April 19th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Wow this sounds exciting to say the least. Will this be something that people with dry eye macular degeneration could hope for?
April 19th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
This recent technology will help people to get back to their gifted sight again….. really Science is true miracle that one should believe. Thanks to The Science and Technology
April 19th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
[Comment ID #179541 Will Be Quoted Here]
Intraokular in German simply means “IOL” or “Intra Ocular Lens”
April 19th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
For those interested in the history of Corneal Transplantation I suggest to try to find a copy of:
Mark J. Mannis
Corneal Transplantation-A History in Profiles
Ostend 1999
This book explains all the efforts made to try to save the sight in transplanting corneas. It begins with Pellier de Quengsy in 1789 who first designed a corneal prosthesis ending with Maumenees work on immunbiology of the corneal graft. The artificial cornea would be a giant step forwards.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
This is amazing technology and invention. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have out done themselves. Bravo! I dont have any medical background but I think Jean-Paul is correct in pointing out that getting approval of such inventions takes time and is not so easy. Maybe if the researchers build a faithful customer base and then show the government how important and effective their discovery is… the govt might agree. I am a regular user of this tool called MyPRGenie http://www.myprgenie.com/technology and I think its brilliant how they build PR and connections amongst sellers and relevent customers. Using it might help. Just a suggestion