An estimated 10 million people worldwide suffer from blindness due to corneal damage or disease. However, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute in Munich, Germany has developed an artificial cornea which adheres to eye cells and could be used as a safer alternative to other corneal operations being used on those deprived of sight.

The team, led by Joachim Storsberg, head of the Fraunhofer Institute's medical polymer research unit in Munich, Germany developed this new artificial cornea for a way to replace the current implants which usually end up being covered by excess corneal tissue. The new implant instead is made from a protein-coated polymer which adhere's to the cells in the eye and greatly relieves most complications, such as tissue rejection, accompanied by other conventional transplants.

The biggest advantage of this new artificial cornea is the fact that the center of the implant remains clear of excess corneal tissue. The cornea is coated with a protein that attracts existing corneal cells and isolates the center from any excess tissue. Because of this, the implant can be sutured directly to the eye and completely eliminates the need for any donor corneal tissue.

John Huang, an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale University School of Medicine, attests to the effectiveness of this new implant. He notes the huge advantage of this implant has due to the short supply of donor corneal tissue nowadays.