Seeing through collagen: integrative pro-regenerative corneal implants for clearer future

Collagen-based artificial corneas are a promising regenerative alternative to scarce donor tissue. However, their clinical success is limited by mechanical weakness, enzymatic degradation, and poor bio-integration. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and the future strategies to optimize collagen for making pro-regenerative corneal implants, enhancing the performance, functionality, and clinical viability of the collagen-based artificial cornea as a substitute for donor tissue.