Researchers at Dankook University in South Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel material for soft contact lenses that can repair surface scratches after approximately 1 hour of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. The technology uses a dynamic disulfide-based cross-linker incorporated into a hydrogel matrix, enabling the material to recover up to 90% of its original mechanical strength following damage.

In addition to self-repair capabilities, the investigators added 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, a zwitterionic surface coating designed to resist protein and bacterial adhesion, potentially improving lens cleanliness and comfort. Laboratory testing demonstrated that scratches on the lens surface were substantially repaired after UV exposure at room temperature.

The findings, published in ACS Applied Polymer Materials, represent an early step toward more durable contact lenses that may have longer usable lifespans and improved resistance to everyday wear and tear. While the technology remains in the research phase and is not yet commercially available, the authors suggest that self-healing and antifouling materials could contribute to future generations of soft contact lenses with enhanced durability and ocular surface performance.

Choi J-H, Cho B-K. Room-temperature UV-induced self-healing hydrogels with antifouling and antiscratch surfaces for soft contact lenses. ACS Appl Polym Mater. 2026;8(10):7076-7088. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.5c04803