3D-Printed Cornea Restores Patient’s Sight

Quick Smiles:

• First human implant of a 3D-printed, lab-grown cornea restores sight to a once-legally blind patient
• One donor cornea could create hundreds of grafts, tackling the global shortage
• Doctors call it a transformative breakthrough for millions affected by corneal blindness

A patient’s vision has been restored thanks to the world’s first human implant of a 3D-printed cornea created from cultured human eye cells. This achievement marks a huge step forward in the mission to provide more accessible transplants for those in need.

The technique, developed by North Carolina’s Precise Bio, uses robotic bio-fabrication to turn just one donor cornea into hundreds of lab-grown grafts. Currently, only one donor cornea is available for every 70 patients needing vision-restoring surgery.

“This achievement marks a turning point for regenerative ophthalmology—a moment of real hope for millions living with corneal blindness,”

said Aryeh Batt, Precise Bio’s co-founder and CEO.

The transplant was performed on October 29 in Israel on one eye of a patient who was considered legally blind before the surgery. This procedure signals a brighter future for regenerative ophthalmology and offers renewed hope for anyone awaiting a transplant.

“This is a game changer. We’ve witnessed a cornea created in the lab, from living human cells, bring sight back to a human being,”

said Dr. Michael Mimouni, director of the cornea unit at Rambam Medical Center, who performed the surgery.

The new corneal implant, named PB-001, is designed to match a natural cornea’s clarity and flexibility and is tested for seamless integration with a patient’s tissue. The ongoing clinical trial in Israel is enrolling participants with certain corneal conditions to further study this groundbreaking implant.

PB-001 is built to fit with existing surgical tools, arrives safely preserved, and takes on a natural shape once implanted. The company looks forward to sharing primary trial results in 2026, potentially opening up transplantation for many more people in need.

“PB-001 has the potential to offer a new, standardized solution to one of ophthalmology’s most urgent needs—reliable, safe, and effective corneal replacement,”

said Anthony Atala, M.D., co-founder of Precise Bio.

Experts believe this innovation could revolutionize transplant medicine, ensuring no one has to go without sight due to a lack of donor tissue. Stay tuned for more uplifting advancements in the world of science and human compassion!

Source