The patients eye 10 months post-operatively. Credit CorNeat Vision

Israeli company CorNeat Vision reported a patient blinded by herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) has regained 6/6 vision following implantation of the CorNeat KPro artificial cornea.

The affected eye had been deemed unsuitable for donor corneal transplantation. At 11 months post-operation with the KPro, visual acuity remained stable and the ocular appearance was unchanged, said the company.

The procedure was performed under the Resee clinical trial being conducted in Canada, France, India, Israel and the Netherlands. CorNeat indicated it will seek CE-marking and FDA 510(k) clearance for the KPro, with US trials expected to commence in 2026.

Delivering sight and aesthetics to an eye once beyond help highlights the impact of this artificial cornea, said Dr Gilad Litvin, CorNeat Vision's co-founder and chief medical officer. "This breakthrough not only restores vision for patients with untreatable corneal conditions but also delivers hope to millions of blind patients living in regions where donor tissue is scarce."

According to CorNeat, the implant offers consistent optical quality, integration with the eyewall, a long shelf life and requires no donor tissue and a short implantation procedure.