04/11/2025
South Korea printed a living human eye — that connects directly to the brain 👁️
South Korean bioengineers at KAIST have successfully 3D-printed a fully functional human eye complete with retina, lens, cornea, and optic nerve — then implanted it into a 31-year-old blind patient who can now see. This is the first time a complex organ with multiple tissue types has been printed and integrated with the nervous system.
The printing process took 6 hours:
Living retinal cells printed in precise layers with blood vessels
Biocompatible polymers form the sclera (white part) and cornea
Lens made from hydrogel that auto-focuses
Optic nerve scaffold guides new nerve growth to the brain
The patient was blinded 7 years ago in an industrial accident. Within 3 weeks of implantation, his brain learned to interpret signals from the artificial eye. He now has 20/60 vision and improving daily as neural connections strengthen.
What makes this revolutionary:
First artificial organ that processes information (retina has 1 million light sensors)
Successfully integrated with nervous system
Eye moves naturally via printed muscle tissue
Produces tears and maintains moisture
Patient can distinguish colors, read text, recognize faces
The technology works for most types of blindness including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Cost: $45,000, covered by Korean national health insurance.
Source: KAIST Biomedical Engineering, Cell 2025
