Fish scales usually end up in the rubbish bin of any market. In the laboratories of the Department of Histology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada, however, they have been examining this waste with different eyes for some time. The result is a biocompatible, resistant and transparent corneal implant obtained from the scales of carp and other commonly consumed fish.
The cornea is the transparent layer that covers the front of the eye and serves an essential optical function. When it becomes severely diseased, it regenerates poorly and receives no direct blood supply, complicating any treatment. In many cases, the only way out is a transplant from a donor.
