Abstract <p>The eye, as one of the most sensitive and complex organs of the body, has always been of interest to medical science. The unique structure of the eye poses significant challenges to its regeneration and repair. Conventional transplantation methods often fail due to immune rejection, poor host-tissue integration, and limited adaptability within the body. Recently, 3D and 4D bioprinting technologies have emerged as novel approaches in ocular tissue engineering. 3D bioprinting, a relatively recent advancement in tissue engineering, has enabled the fabrication of multilayered, transplantable scaffolds. These techniques—including extrusion-based printing, laser-assisted printing, and stereolithography—enable highly precise fabrication for corneal and retinal repair, given their delicate structures. However, 3D structures are static, meaning they cannot adapt and function properly in the living eye environment after transplantation Therefore, researchers have introduced 4D bioprinting as an extension of 3D bioprinting, in which stimulus-responsive smart materials are integrated into printed constructs. These materials enable the scaffold to change shape or function over time in response to physiological cues such as temperature, pH, or light. In this way, not only are the reconstruction results improved, but integration with host tissues is also significantly increased. Potential applications of 4D bioprinting have shown progress in the field of optic nerve regeneration and adaptive corneal repair, which has shown promise in the treatment of visual disorders. However, hurdles including biomaterial-tissue matching and neural interfacing remain. This study reviews the roles of 3D and 4D bioprinting scaffolds in the repair of diverse ocular structures and highlights the major challenges that persist in this emerging field.</p> Lay Summary <p>The eye is difficult to repair and regenerate due to its complex structure, and traditional transplantation methods often fail due to incompatibility with the host tissue. 3D and 4D bioprinting technologies have provided a novel approach to ocular tissue engineering; 3D printing creates precise scaffolds for corneal and retinal reconstruction, while 4D bioprinting with smart materials produces structures that are compatible with the living environment. Despite advances, challenges such as selection of appropriate materials, biocompatibility, high cost, and lack of expertise hinder the clinical deployment of this technology.Lay Summary</p>