An ophthalmologist has confirmed he will perform what is billed to be the UK’s first artificial corneal transplant.
The artificial cornea will be made from synthetic collagen, grown in a laboratory using DNA techniques to make it similar to tissue found in the human body.
Sheraz Daya, Centre for Sight’s medical director, announced he is planning the country’s first artificial corneal transplant, before using the new technique to treat up to a dozen patients in a UK trial. Previously, the only way to replace the transparent front part of the eye was to find a suitable donor.
Daya said: ‘This technology could transform thousands of lives in this country and worldwide.’
He added that the method would also avoid the risks from using human tissue of graft rejection and disease.