Surgeons in New York have successfully performed the world’s first complete eye transplant on a man who lost most of his face in a high-voltage electrical accident. The surgery, which involved replacing half of the man’s face, lasted for 21 hours and included a rare partial face transplant in addition to the eye transplant. The doctors involved in the procedure stated that the patient is recovering well, although it is uncertain whether he will regain vision in his new eye. However, the surgery provides valuable insights into how the human eye can heal and brings scientists one step closer to restoring sight.
The transplant involved injecting adult stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow into the patient’s optic nerve to encourage repair. The donor provided both the face and the eye, and the surgery required the expertise of more than 140 healthcare professionals. While there are no guarantees of restored vision, the surgeons are optimistic about the possibilities. The patient, who called the surgery “life changing,” expressed gratitude to the donor and their family for making the procedure possible.
