3D-Printed Cornea Restores Vision in Groundbreaking Surgery

A patient has regained sight thanks to the first successful implant of a 3D-printed cornea made from human eye cells cultivated in a lab.

The North Carolina company behind this innovation has hailed the procedure as a significant milestone, addressing the critical shortage of donor tissues and the lengthy waiting times associated with transplants.

Precise Bio claims that its robotic bio-fabrication process could allow one donated cornea to yield hundreds of lab-grown grafts, a notable contrast to the current scenario where one cornea is shared among approximately 70 patients in need.

“This accomplishment signifies a pivotal moment for regenerative ophthalmology—a genuine source of hope for millions suffering from corneal blindness,” said Aryeh Batt, CEO and co-founder of Precise Bio.

“For the first time, a corneal implant, entirely created in a lab from cultured human corneal cells rather than actual donor material, has been successfully placed in a patient.”

The transplant took place on October 29 and involved one eye of a patient deemed legally blind.

“This is truly revolutionary. We’ve seen a laboratory-created cornea restore sight to a human,” remarked Dr. Michael Mimouni, who heads the cornea unit at Rambam Medical Center in Israel and performed the surgery.

“It was a remarkable moment—a sneak peek into a future where no one has to endure darkness due to a shortage of donor tissues.”

The implant, referred to as PB-001, aims to replicate the natural optical clarity and mechanical properties of a true cornea. After testing in animal subjects, the graft is said to integrate well with the recipient’s tissue.

Issues such as injuries, infections, or scarring can cloud the outer layer of the eye, impacting vision. Currently, PB-001 is under evaluation in a phase 1 trial in Israel, set to include 10 to 15 participants dealing with excess fluid in the cornea due to issues within its inner layers.

Precise Bio anticipates sharing preliminary findings from the trial in the latter half of 2026, focusing on six-month effectiveness outcomes.

The corneas are made to work seamlessly with existing surgical equipment and protocols. They’re kept in long-term cryopreservation and ready for immediate use during surgery, naturally unfolding to shape like a traditional cornea.

“PB-001 offers a promising avenue towards a reliable, safe, and effective corneal replacement, addressing one of the most pressing needs in ophthalmology,” expressed Anthony Atala, M.D., co-founder of Precise Bio and director at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

“The capacity to create patient-ready tissue on demand could fundamentally change transplant medicine as we know it.”