In a groundbreaking medical procedure, surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York have successfully performed the world's first complete human eye transplant. The recipient, Aaron James, a high-voltage utility line worker, had lost most of his face and one eye in a work accident in June 2021. The transplant, which came from a single donor, marks the only successful combined transplant case of its kind.
The surgical team spent 21 hours in surgery, transferring the donor's face, eye socket, and eye to James. The procedure involved grafting the entire eye, including its blood supply and optic nerve, from the donor onto James. The surgery was led by Eduardo Rodriguez, a leading figure in the field of facial reconstruction.
In an innovative approach, the research team combined the donor eye with donor bone marrow-derived stem cells in an attempt to enhance the nerve regeneration. The NYU Langone team used bone marrow-derived adult stem cells to promote nerve repair, and future sight restoration could involve gene therapy, nerve wraps, or signal-bypassing devices.
While the transplanted eye appears healthy and is generating an electrical signal, it is not yet known if James will regain sight. The NYU team is not claiming that they will restore sight, but they believe they are one step closer. The surgery provides scientists with an extraordinary insight into the healing process of the human eye, offering an unparalleled opportunity to study and understand this intricate aspect of ocular recovery.
The procedure, performed in May, aimed to enhance the overall cosmetic outcome by providing support to the transplanted eye socket and lid. James is reportedly recovering well from the surgery, but it is still too early to know if he will regain sight.