Artificial corneas could save eyesight

While there's been no shortage of research surrounding the saving of one's eyesight, the EU-funded CORNEA project has now developed an artificial cornea that is showing promise in trials. Reportedly, scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam and the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Regensburg have created a device that is "based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it." Put simply, the cornea implant can "firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the center remains free of cells and therefore clear." Apparently, early versions have already been successfully placed in the eyes of rabbits, and if ongoing testing goes smoothly, they'll be headed for humans as early as next year.

[Dustin Frazier @ Oct 4th 2007 3:21AM]

Looks like the thingies under keyboard keys.

[Sirocco @ Oct 4th 2007 3:24AM]

Engadget, thanks for broadening the range of topics. After all, there's more to technology than cell phones and ipods.

[go engadget go @ Oct 4th 2007 3:29AM]

Yes! Thank you!!

[chiefbutz @ Oct 4th 2007 6:13AM]

Yes, I agree thank you. I get very tired of cell phones and ipods

[Spooky @ Oct 4th 2007 3:32AM]

Poor Rabbits!

At least they are advancing technology, hopefully we can get out bionic eyes soon. I want to be able to read the fine print of my next cell phone contract in a couple years.

[danzigmessiah @ Oct 4th 2007 3:35AM]

Some things never cease to amaze. I want some bionic contact lenses. :)

[Atanas Boev @ Oct 4th 2007 3:49AM]

Probably the rabbits had bad eyesight anyway, so the experiments were for their own good.
How do you test the vision of a rabbit? Hey Mr. Rabbit, which letter am I pointing to?

[Jenny Talia @ Oct 4th 2007 1:55PM]

With all of the carrots that they eat, they must have pretty good eyesight.

Poor little bunnies...Thanks.

[Jkswiss @ Oct 5th 2007 9:06AM]

Haven't you ever worn glasses? They have a machine that automatically adjusts the lenses so you have fairly clear vision. This is the same machine that blows that puff of air to test eyeball pressure I think. The letter test is just to fine tune it I think

[skhawaja @ Oct 4th 2007 4:45PM]

I would gladly get an implant - I have spent enough money on 'scratch resistant' 'high index' 'anti-everything' lenses just to have the frame snap or have a frame that has been discontinued - right now I am wearing my original frames with only the lens holders intact - every other piece has been taken from dollar store glasses.

[Jkswiss @ Oct 5th 2007 9:06AM]

You should try wavefront Lasik. I used to be 20/300. If I used regular lenses, they'd be coke bottle, thank God they had those thinner ones. Anyhow, I had that procedure done about 3 years ago and I'm still rocking 20/15 in both eyes. No halos or dry eyes. Best 3 grand I ever spent in my life.

[Garst @ Oct 4th 2007 4:42AM]

Little do potential patients know, this thing causes impotences. Oh, wait that's just in 50+ year-old husbands. :-D

[prouted @ Oct 4th 2007 4:55AM]

I also heard that they test condoms and viagra on rabbits...

[gupta93 @ Oct 4th 2007 7:37AM]

This is not anything new. Dr. Claes Dohlman at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, MA, USA has been performing surgical procedures with an artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis). This has been in patients for over 30 years!!

[CT A @ Oct 4th 2007 8:15AM]

"they'll be headed for humans as early as next year."

I get it!

[SENATOR @ Oct 4th 2007 9:32AM]

This is fantastic. As someone with keratoconus (crappy corneas), I've been waiting for something like this. Hopefully by the time I'd need a transplant (if at all, it would be in my 50's) this technology will be perfected. Now, if only they could come with optional x-ray vision...

[tcc3 @ Oct 4th 2007 9:31AM]

What a bogus study. Rabbits? Who knows how the ingestion of carrots could be affecting the study!
=P

[Rick @ Oct 4th 2007 12:14PM]

Wow, amazing. The operation and resulting temporary sutures would be scary but being able to see for most would be worth the risk and discomformt I'm sure.

[James @ Oct 4th 2007 12:52PM]

YES! I'D LOVE PERMANENT CONTACT LENSES!

[Passarinhuu @ Oct 5th 2007 3:20PM]

Ermmm, we already have cirurgical procedures to correct that kind of sight issues and they are quite simple. No need for an implant :|

[James @ Oct 5th 2007 4:52PM]

But it ruins eyesight when you get older. You won't be able to read when your 60.

[Carson Whitsett @ Oct 4th 2007 1:06PM]

It sure doesn't look very clear...

[J. Evans Turner @ Oct 4th 2007 4:52PM]

No kidding. What a terrible picture!

[Rainier @ Oct 4th 2007 1:14PM]

Silly wabbit!