South Korean scientists develop self-healing contact lenses that repair scratches in sunlight

South Korea: Researchers in South Korea have created a prototype contact lens that can repair small scratches on its own when exposed to UV light, potentially cutting costs and waste for millions of users.

Developed by Jung-Hyun Choi and Byung-Ki Cho, the lens uses a redesigned hydrogel polymer. Through a process called disulfide exchange, UV light at 365 nanometers causes sulfur bonds in the gel to break and reconnect, smoothing out surface imperfections in under an hour.

Before-and-after images in the study, published in ACS Applied Polymer Materials, show visible scratches disappearing after UV exposure. The team says future versions could be repaired at home using common UV sources like nail-curing lamps or indoor plant grow lights.

The lens also includes an extra polymer layer that resists bacterial buildup and abrasion. In testing it held up even after repeated contact with sandpaper, retained moisture better than commercial lenses, and repaired scratches had only a 2% perceptibility score.“The technology offers greater durability and an antibacterial coating to create a more robust contact lens,” the researchers said.

The study was funded in part by the National Research Foundation of Korea. Additional testing for regulatory approval in South Korea is still needed before market trials can begin.

If approved, the self-healing design could reduce replacement costs and plastic waste from scratched lenses.