Researchers at Spain’s University of Granada have developed an artificial cornea made from the scales of several fish ​species commonly found in markets, which could become a ‌lower-cost alternative to donor transplants for severe eye diseases.

The cornea – the eye’s transparent front layer – is difficult to repair when badly damaged because it ​has no blood vessels and limited regenerative capacity. Severe ​corneal disease is often treated with donor transplants, which ⁠can be constrained by organ availability and waiting lists.

Scientists from ​the university’s Tissue Engineering Group and the ibs.GRANADA biomedical research institute ​said in a press release they had created corneal implants with fish scales that were highly biocompatible, transparent and resistant.

“Due to its origin, this product ​is very accessible, easy to obtain and inexpensive, and could ​help boost the local fishing industry,” said Ingrid Garzon, professor of histology ‌at ⁠the southern Spanish university, who co-authored the research.

While testing suggested they could be useful for corneal repair and regeneration, the technology remains far from possible clinical use in humans pending human trials.

The ​team said the ​material produced ⁠good functional results in laboratory studies and in animals that received the implants.

“Although the standard transplant ​usually offers good results, it’s necessary to develop ​new effective ⁠regeneration methods that do not depend on organ donation, which is subject to waiting lists,” Miguel Alaminos, also a histology professor at ⁠the ​same university, said in the release.

A ​2016 peer-reviewed paper by researchers at Antwerp University found that fish scale-derived artificial corneas ​were biocompatible with humans.