S. Korean researchers develop artificial cornea with reduced organ rejection rates

이식 대기 필요없는 '인공 각막' 나온다

Shifting gears, when the eye's outer cornea is damaged, it can affect a person's sight, and even lead to blindness.
And because corneal transplants come with their own set of problems, Korean researchers are working to develop an artificial cornea.
Park Se-young has this report.
This man is suffering from cornea damage caused by the side effect of medication.
He has received three sets of transplants but was unable to regain his eyesight due to organ rejection.
Rejection occurs in about 36 percent of people within five years of a corneal transplant.
The possibility of rejection increases in young patients and those who need multiple procedures because new blood vessels grow in the cornea.

"Blood vessel growth comes with inflammatory cells and tends to cause rejection. And a damaged eye surface can't generate tears, so transplants are quickly destroyed."

This is why a Korean research team has created an artificial cornea using synthetic polymers.
Unlike a donor cornea, the immune system doesn't recognize it as foreign or try to eliminate it.
And because it can be mass produced, the long wait for donors is no longer necessary.
The artificial cornea has proved safe and effective in vision recovery during testing on animals.
Clinical trials are set to take place later this year.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.

#artificial_cornea #transplant #sight

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