The innovative 3D cornea that could restore vision to those blinded by corneal opacity.

On October 29, 2025, at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel, a silent medical procedure marked one of the most significant advances in modern ophthalmology: the first successful transplant of a fully 3D bioprinted cornea , created entirely from human cells grown in a laboratory. The patient, legally blind in one eye, regained her vision after receiving the PB-001 implant, developed by the Israeli-American company Precise Bio , which specializes in regenerative medicine and tissue biofabrication.

The achievement was no accident. According to Precise Bio, the transplant is the result of more than a decade of multidisciplinary research involving cell biology, biomaterials, and 3D bioprinting — an effort that began in the 2010s, when the company was founded by Aryeh Batt and renowned researcher Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the United States.

The company does not disclose total investment figures, but describes the project as the result of "years of scientific and clinical development," supported by its own biofabrication infrastructure installed at the Sheba Medical Center , near Tel Aviv.

The innovation stems from a principle that could redefine the future of transplants: a single donated human cornea can generate up to 300 bioprinted implants , thanks to cell expansion and layer-by-layer printing that recreates the transparent structure of corneal tissue.

The process is carried out in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) environment, where corneal cells are isolated, cultured, and organized into a precise three-dimensional architecture capable of integrating with the human eye and restoring optical function.

The transplant performed in Haifa is part of a phase 1 clinical trial , which plans to include between 10 and 15 patients with endothelial corneal diseases. The initial objective is to evaluate safety, tolerability, and early signs of efficacy.

Preliminary results are expected to be released in the second half of 2026. So far, only one patient has received the implant, but the clinical response has been considered positive by surgeons.

Biologically Printed Cornea – Implanted in a Woman Suffering From Blindness. Source: Rambam HCC

Ophthalmologist Michael Mimouni , director of the Rambam Cornea Unit and responsible for the surgery, described the moment as "a historic milestone" and "a glimpse into a future where no one will have to live in darkness for lack of donor tissue." The statement echoes a global problem: it is estimated that for every 70 people who need a corneal transplant, only one donor cornea is available—a deficit affecting more than 13 million patients worldwide.

The international reaction was immediate. In the United States, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center classified the procedure as "a turning point for regenerative ophthalmology" and highlighted that the PB-001 is the first functional bioprinted corneal implant ever used in a human being. In Asia, publications such as the Times of India emphasized that the advance could usher in an era of "ready-to-use" implants, with consistent quality and the possibility of prolonged cryopreservation, overcoming the logistical and biological limitations of traditional human corneas.

Europe is also following the trend. Researchers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany are developing alternative models of bioprinted corneas, some self-adhesive and based on collagen and hyaluronic acid hydrogels, but none have yet reached clinical application in humans—which reinforces the pioneering role of Israel.

Despite the enthusiasm, experts remain cautious. It is still unknown how long the bioprinted implant will remain functional, since donated human corneas can last up to three decades. There is also no consolidated data on the risks of rejection or long-term complications. The patient treated in Israel recovered her vision after the procedure, but the exact time between the surgery and the visual improvement was not detailed by international sources.

Even so, the symbolic and scientific impact is undeniable. As Aryeh Batt, CEO of Precise Bio, stated , “imagine a world where a single donor cornea can give rise to hundreds of lab-grown implants, transforming scarcity into abundance.” If clinical results confirm the potential observed in the first transplant, the 3D bioprinted cornea could usher in a new era—not just for Israel, but for global medicine.

Sources:

North Carolina Biotechnology Center (USA). Neal, Kathy. First 3D-bioprinted corneal transplant marks early milestone for Triad's Precise Bio . Available at: < https://www.ncbiotech.org/ > Accessed on December 19, 2025.

VoxelMatters. (UK). Wakefield, Edward. Israeli surgeons implant world's first 3D bioprinted cornea. Available at: < https://www.voxelmatters.com/ > Accessed on: December 19, 2025.

Rambam Health Care Campus (Israel) – Institutional statement regarding transplantation. Available at: https://www.rambamhcc.com/ Accessed on December 19, 2025.

Times of India. How world's first 3D printed cornea restored a 70-year-old's vision . Available at: < https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ > Accessed on December 19, 2025.