Millions of people around the world are affected by keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder where the cornea thins and bulges outwards. In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be the only treatment option; however, there is a limited supply of donor tissue.
The Augel project is set to change this. ETH Pioneer Fellow Shuo Li is developing a soft hydrogel implant to stabilise the cornea and improve vision. The implant can be manufactured entirely in the lab, is cost-effective and can be integrated with existing laser surgery methods.
Initial tests in the laboratory and in animal models have yielded promising results. The next step is to initiate the first human clinical study of the method.