Light activated biomaterial shows promise for cornea repairs

The researchers’ results show that a novel light-activated material can be used to effectively reshape and thicken damaged corneal tissue, thereby promoting healing and recovery.

Millions of people suffer from corneal diseases but only a fraction is eligible for corneal transplantation, which is the current gold standard for ailments resulting in thinning corneas such as keratoconus, an eye disease that can result in loss of vision.

In a statement, Dr. Emilio Alarcon, an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the BioEngineering and Therapeutic Solutions (BEaTS) group at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, said: “Our technology is a leap in the field of corneal repair. We are confident this could become a practical solution to treat patients living with diseases that negatively impact corneal shape and geometry, including keratoconus.

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The cornea is the protective surface of the eye in front of the iris and pupil that controls and directs light rays into the eye and helps achieve clear vision. It’s normally transparent, but injury or infection results in scarring of the cornea.