The present invention provides an artificial corneal implant having an
optically clear central core and a porous, hydrophilic, biocompatible
skirt peripheral to the central core. In one embodiment, the central core
is made of an interpenetrating double network hydrogel and the skirt is
made of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA). In another embodiment, both
the central core and the skirt are made of interpenetrating double
network hydrogels. The artificial corneal implant may also have an
interdiffusion zone in which the skirt component is interpenetrated with
the core component, or vice versa. In a preferred embodiment,
biomolecules are linked to the skirt, central core or both. These
biomolecules may be any type of biomolecule, but are preferably
biomolecules that support epithelial and/or fibroblast cell survival and
growth. Preferably, the biomolecules are linked in a spatially selective
manner. The present invention also provides a method of making an
artificial corneal implant using photolithography.