A number of Chinese who suffered blindness due to injuries and illnesses were able to see again after receiving bio-engineered corneas from pigs.

At least 47 patients were confirmed to have fully regained eyesight after undergoing transplants at Wuhan Union Hospital.

The latest patient, a 14-year-old boy who lost his eyesight in a firecracker accident during New Year celebrations, regained some vision a week after the transplant.

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"He developed ulcer in his right eye and had lost his sight before the transplant. A week after the transplant, he had regained some vision. In the future his sight may be close to normal," said Yuan Jin of Sun Yat-sen University ophthalmology.

The cornea is the outermost transparent layer of the eye and at least five million Chinese people are blinded by cornea disorders or damage.

Yuan said bio-engineered solutions, such as pig corneas, could provide cure for millions of Chinese with eyesight problems.

However, Zhang Mingchang, director of ophthalmology at Wuhan Union Hospital, said bio-engineered corneas made from pigs are not a miracle cure for all disorders.

FOr instance, Zhang said artificial corneas are not effective for eyes with severe penetration wounds.

Pig corneas stood out from among the tissues taken from animals, including sheep, monkeys, geese, ducks, cows, and chickens. Some animal corneas have the risk of carrying virus while pig tissue was found to have the lowest infection in the recipient.

Chinese company Ainier Cornea received approval from the China Food and Drug Administration last year for the bio-engineered pig cornea commercially sold as "Acornea". 

TagsChina Cornea, China Cornea Transplant, Pig Cornea