Ideal keratoprosthesis implantation material requires stable physical and chemical properties

excellent biological compatibility

high transparency

good air permeability and has certain refractive power

which make the implanted to reach the corrected visual acuity. Hydrogel has been widely used in the department of Ophthalmology

due to good biocompatibility and high permeability to water soluble metabolites such as glucose

nutrients

oxygen and so on. In this article

We provide a critical review of research and development of hydrogel-based artificial cornea from a materials perspective

including natural polymer hydrogels

synthetic polymer hydrogels

interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels and organic-inorganic composite hydrogels with high refractive index.