Innovative Device Advances Human Eye Transplant Technology

Scientists and engineers have made significant strides toward developing a functional human eye transplant device. The breakthrough involves a specially designed portable eye-ECMO machine, inspired by heart and lung bypass systems, which can keep a donor eye alive and viable outside the body for several hours. This development addresses one of the main challenges in eye transplantation—the constant need for oxygenated blood flow to maintain tissue health, particularly in the retina, which transmits visual signals to the brain.

Led by researchers from the University of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the project aims to facilitate whole-eye transplants by ensuring the donor eye remains functional during recovery and transfer. The engineering team, including biomedical engineers and the College of Engineering's 3D printing specialists, created a compact, portable device that mimics physiological blood flow, helping to preserve the eye's structure and function.

The team also developed a custom cannula to connect the eye to the device and an 'eye-HOLDER' to transport the eye safely between surgical and laboratory settings. Recently, the team successfully used this technology to maintain a donor eye in a viable state during recovery, confirmed through optical tests and fluorescent dye circulation. This accomplishment marks a pivotal step toward overcoming the significant challenge of preserving the optic nerve for future transplants.

According to Dr. David Tse and Daniel Pelaez, the success of this project demonstrates the feasibility of whole-eye transplants within the next six years. Ongoing efforts focus on refining the preservation of the optic nerve and developing techniques to reconnect it in recipients. The collaboration exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary teamwork, combining engineering innovations with surgical expertise, to potentially significantly impact blindness treatment and restore vision in the future.