Artificial corneal implants already exist for patients with corneal degeneration, but because the surgeries are complex, they are often the last resort when corneal ring transplants or implants do not work. On the other hand, inserting the CorNeat transplant is a relatively simple procedure that requires minimal stitches and cuts. In addition, it uses a biomimetic material that “stimulates cell proliferation, leading to progressive tissue integration,” according to CorNeat.
A very cool animation (above) shows exactly how this works, with the end result that the device is fully transplanted into the wall of the eye. “Fibroblasts and collagen gradually colonize the integrating skirt and full integration is achieved in weeks, permanently incorporating the device into the patient’s eye,” according to CorNeat. This allows for better eyesight and “exceptionally fast cure times” and looks quite natural to boot.
The company said another ten patients were approved for testing in Israel. It plans to open two more this month in Canada, with six more in the process of being approved in France, the United States and the Netherlands. Although the implant does not contain any electronic devices, it can help more people than any robotic eye. “After years of hard work, watching a colleague easily deploy CorNeat KPro and witnessing another human being recover his vision the next day was electrifying and emotionally moving, there were many tears in the room,” said CorNeat Vision co-founder Dr. Gilad Litvin.