A man in Arkansas who was severely injured by an electrical shock to his face has received the world’s first whole-eye and partial face transplant. The surgery, performed by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez and his team at NYU Langone, involved transplanting an entire left eye and a portion of a face from a single donor onto the 46-year-old military veteran. Although it is uncertain if the patient will regain sight in his left eye, there have been positive signs of health, including restored blood flow to the retina.
The patient had suffered a 7,200-volt electrical shock in 2021, which resulted in the loss of his left eye, nose, lips, front teeth, and part of his chin. After multiple reconstructive surgeries, the doctors at NYU provided guidance on the case and eventually proposed a face transplant. The surgery, which took place in May, involved a large team of surgeons and healthcare professionals. In addition to the whole-eye transplant, the surgeons also transplanted the nose, eyelids, eyebrow, lips, and various bone segments.
The patient spent a relatively short time in intensive care following the surgery and has since entered rehabilitation and therapy. He has also undergone follow-up surgery and will receive dental treatment in the future. The success of this surgery represents a significant advancement in the field of transplant medicine, particularly regarding the complex nature of eye transplants and the potential for nerve regeneration using stem cells.
