A man in Arkansas who suffered severe facial injuries from an electrical shock has successfully received the world’s first whole-eye and partial face transplant. The 46-year-old military veteran underwent a 21-hour surgery in May, during which an entire left eye and a portion of a face from a single donor were transplanted onto him. Although it is still unknown if he will regain sight in the left eye, doctors are optimistic due to the remarkable signs of health the eye has shown in the months following the surgery. This revolutionary procedure, which involved injecting adult stem cells into the optic nerve in the hopes of enhancing nerve regeneration, could provide valuable insights for more successful ocular transplants in the future.
The surgery involved a medical team of over 140 surgeons, nurses, and health care professionals at NYU Langone Health. The donor was a young man in his 30s who came from a family that strongly supports organ donation and generously donated tissues that not only led to the successful face and eye transplant but also saved the lives of three other individuals. Despite the complexity of the eye and the challenges involved in eye transplants, the progress seen with the transplanted eye has exceeded initial expectations, demonstrating the potential for this procedure to pave the way for sight restoration. The recipient, Aaron James, has made a remarkable recovery and has regained the ability to taste, smell, and eat solid foods, with hopes of enjoying a Thanksgiving meal for the first time since his injury.
