Hospital Virgen de las Nieves debuts 3D eyes for transplants

Published on May 23, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

The Hospital Virgen de las Nieves in Granada has taken a step forward in corneal transplants by integrating 3D technology. This tool allows for more precise surgical planning and the creation of patient-specific grafts, promising to improve visual outcomes and reduce complications in the operating room.

Ophthalmic surgeon holding a translucent corneal graft with an irregular anatomical shape, generated by 3D printing, in front of a touchscreen displaying a digital corneal model with surgical planning mesh, laser scalpel aligned over a donor eye in a sterile holder, white operating room lighting, specular reflections on metallic instruments, blue surgical background with monitors showing 3D eye reconstruction, photorealistic technical illustration style, textures of living tissue and polymer, sharp depth of field on the graft, measurement and adjustment action during the transplant customization process.

Tomography and 3D modeling for custom grafts 🧬

The technique is based on optical coherence tomography images, which are used to generate three-dimensional models of the damaged cornea. The surgeon can thus design a graft that exactly matches the required shape and thickness, optimizing the fit of the donor tissue. This personalized approach minimizes errors and accelerates the patient's visual recovery.

Goodbye glass eye, hello printed graft 👁️

Finally, technology arrives where it hurts the most: the eye. Now, instead of praying that the graft in question fits like an old sock, surgeons can design it as if it were a custom-made suit. Of course, they better not ask for the striped or polka-dot model, or else the vision will end up very psychedelic.