Surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York have successfully performed the world’s first-ever whole-eye transplant in a human. The transplant was part of a partial face transplant surgery on a 46-year-old military veteran named Aaron James, who had lost his left eye and other parts of his face in a high-voltage electrical accident. While James has not regained sight in the transplanted eye six months after the surgery, the grafted eye has shown signs of health, including functioning blood vessels and a promising retina.
This groundbreaking procedure marks a significant milestone in the field of eye transplantation. Previously, doctors could only transplant the cornea, which is the clear front layer of the eye. The surgical team, led by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, transplanted the entire eye globe, opening up new possibilities for research and potential advancements in vision restoration. Although the transplanted eye is not currently communicating with the brain through the optic nerve, the surgeons injected adult stem cells into the optic nerve to encourage healing and potentially restore vision. While it is unclear whether James will regain sight in the transplanted eye, the success of this operation could pave the way for future developments in restoring vision for individuals with sight loss.
