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.