185.000 corneal transplants per year worldwide, 12 million people on the waiting list. The statistics on corneal blindness tell a story of dashed hopes and endless waits. But from Dubai comes a visual prosthesis that could rewrite these statistics: an implant that completely bypasses the corneal problem, projecting 450-pixel images directly onto the healthy retina.
The technology combines smart glasses with a microdisplay placed in the eye, creating a direct link between the outside world and the brain. The first human trials are expected in 2027. Corneal blindness is about to face its most formidable opponent.
How does the intracorneal visual prosthesis work?
The system developed by Xpanceo e Intra-Ker It represents a radical paradigm shift. Instead of attempting to biologically repair the damaged cornea, the technology completely ignores it. The heart of the system is a 450x450 pixel microdisplay enclosed in a package just 5,6 millimeters thick, sealed and permanently implanted in the eye.
Smart glasses capture the visual world through an integrated camera. This data is transmitted wirelessly to the internal display using the same communication and power system designed for smart contact lenses. XpanceoThe microdisplay receives the signal and projects the images directly onto the retina, completely bypassing the cloudy or damaged cornea.
It is an approach that recalls the visionary film "Until the End of the World" by Wim Wenders from 1991, where a similar technology was imagined to record and reproduce dreams directly in the brain.The difference is that now this fantasy has become a clinical possibility.
Why this visual prosthesis revolutionizes transplants
The cornea is the most commonly transplanted tissue in the world, but the current system has clear limitations. Massimo Busin, President and CEO of Intra-Ker, explains:
"With traditional corneal transplants performed every year, we can't meet the demand. There's a critical need for solutions that don't depend on donor tissue."
The advantages of a visual prosthesis are numerous. It eliminates the wait for donors, eliminates the risk of rejection, and offers a permanent solution. The surgical procedure, according to busin, it is no more complex than a standard corneal surgery, but the effects are radically different.
The researchers ofManchester University have recently published on Nature Communications. a study that demonstrates how the Italian liquid artificial retina can restore visual function even in advanced stages of degeneration. These parallel advances serve as confirmation: the future of artificial vision is rapidly taking shape.
Current limitations and future developments
The prototype currently offers a resolution of 450x450 pixels, enough to recognize shapes, obstacles, and basic movements. This is a huge leap in quality for those living in the total darkness of corneal blindness, but it's certainly not perfect vision.
Valentine Volkov founder of Xpanceo, is optimistic: "For clinical use, we aim to miniaturize the entire system." The goal is to increase resolution and further reduce the size of the implant.
Current retinal prostheses such as theArgus II Patients must be at least 25 years old, have severe retinitis pigmentosa with absent or dim light perception in both eyes, and have preserved ganglion cells. The new intracorneal visual prosthesis could significantly expand the pool of suitable candidates.
At the same time, research on liquid artificial retina continues in Italy. As reported by in this article, advances in bionic prosthetics are opening up new possibilities for sensory recovery.
A $200 million market
Human trials, as mentioned, could begin within two years, with a potential market estimated at between $50 and $200 million annually. But beyond the economic numbers, the social impact could be devastating. Millions of people currently excluded from donor-based solutions could finally have access to vision restoration.
The road to commercialization will still require time and extensive testing, but the proof-of-concept has been demonstrated. For the first time in history, we have a concrete and scalable alternative to corneal transplants. Corneal blindness, which has plagued humanity for millennia, may soon become a thing of the past.
The future of sight seemed so far away, and now it seems so close.
