New technological advances toward autonomous treatment of the cornea

At the international scientific conference on biological corneas, organized on April 4 by VGCT (a member of CT Group) in cooperation with the Vietnamese Ophthalmology Association and ACRO Biomedical, Professor Doctor Ton Thi Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnamese Ophthalmology Association, said advanced biomaterials could expand clinical options for treating corneal diseases amid a shortage of donated corneas.

“Developing and applying this material not only has technological significance, but also helps progressively become more proactive in replacing human corneas in clinical practice, especially given the current shortage of donated corneas,” she emphasized.

Need for coordinated research-to-clinic pathways

Professor Ton Thi Kim Thanh said close collaboration among eye hospitals, corneal specialists, and research units is key to shortening the gap between research and clinical application while ensuring patient safety and treatment effectiveness. She also highlighted the scale of corneal-related blindness globally and the continued pressure on transplant services.

According to the World Health Organization and the 2019 World Vision Report, blindness caused by corneal diseases and injuries ranks fifth globally. Corneal grafting remains the final treatment option to restore vision for patients.

Globally, more than 12 million people with corneal diseases are awaiting transplants. In Vietnam, while there is no official national statistic on the total number of patients needing corneal transplants, Deputy Director Vuong Anh Duong of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment estimated that more than 300,000 people have vision impairment due to corneal diseases.

At the National Eye Hospital, the number of patients waiting for grafts reaches thousands. Clinical practice faces rising demand for corneal transplants alongside very limited donor corneas, leaving many patients waiting for long periods and, in some cases, missing the opportunity for treatment.

Limitations of traditional grafting and shift to alternatives

Deputy Director Vuong Anh Duong noted that many severe cases—such as eye burns, complex corneal surface injuries, or repeated graft failures—make traditional grafting less optimal. As a result, seeking alternative solutions has become an inevitable trend in modern ophthalmology.

He said that globally, new approaches such as artificial corneas and biomaterials are being studied and applied, offering additional options for patients who previously had few effective treatments and improving access to care.

Regulatory progress on a bio corneal product

Deputy Director Vuong Anh Duong also stated that the Ministry of Health has received licensing applications for a bio corneal product, which is currently under review for circulation in Vietnam.

Industry outlook and expected economic contribution

Dang Thi Tuoi, Deputy General Director of VGCT, said biological corneas are a field with both scientific-medical value and humanitarian significance, adding that it also carries national strategic importance.

“This is viewed as a breakthrough solution to address the shortage of donor corneas, opening opportunities to restore vision for millions of patients and laying the groundwork for Vietnam to progressively master advanced biomedical technology,” she said.

She added that if the field is implemented nationwide with coordinated participation of the “three pillars” (the State – business – institutes/universities), it could become a driver contributing to double-digit growth, particularly in high-tech and biomedical sectors.

The conference speakers also linked the adoption of new technologies to reducing dependence on donor corneas, restoring sight, and improving quality of life. They further said the sector is expected to generate economic value, with an estimated contribution of about 0.3–0.4% to growth, as some people with vision loss could return to the workforce.