Military veteran Aaron James became the recipient of the world’s first whole-eye transplant, marking a significant milestone in medical history. This achievement was carried out by a medical team at NYU Langone Health in May 2023. The procedure involved transplanting an entire human eye, a feat previously considered beyond reach. This event has opened new avenues for research in vision restoration and complex reconstructive surgery.
The Patient and the Accident
The journey to this historic surgery began with a severe high-voltage electrical accident in June 2021 that profoundly impacted Aaron James’s life. While working as a high-voltage lineman, his face accidentally touched a live wire, resulting in a 7,200-volt electric shock. The incident caused extensive injuries, including the complete loss of his left eye, his left arm above the elbow, and significant damage to his face, nose, lips, and chin.
His injuries required ongoing reconstructive care. His medical team at NYU Langone Health recognized the opportunity for a dual transplant to address both the facial disfigurement and the missing eye. This damage made him a suitable candidate for such an intricate and experimental procedure, aiming to restore both function and appearance.
A Groundbreaking Surgical Procedure
The eye transplant was performed in conjunction with a partial face transplant, a complex undertaking that required meticulous planning and execution. This “world’s first” involved the successful transplantation of the entire eyeball, or globe, along with its blood supply and the optic nerve. This had never been achieved in a human before, presenting challenges due to the optic nerve’s inability to regenerate effectively.
The operation lasted approximately 21 hours and involved a team of over 140 medical professionals, led by Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez. A novel technique was employed during the surgery: adult stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow were injected into the optic nerve connection. This experimental step was taken with the hope of encouraging nerve regeneration and potentially facilitating the transmission of visual signals.
Post-Surgery Results and Future Outlook
Over a year after the procedure, the transplanted eye has shown signs of health and viability. The eye maintains normal pressure and demonstrates direct blood flow to the retina, contradicting outcomes observed in previous animal models where transplanted eyes often deteriorated. Electroretinography, a test measuring the retina’s electrical response to light, has even detected some electrical signals, indicating the survival of light-sensitive cells within the donor eye.
Despite these positive indicators of the eye’s health, Mr. James has not regained sight in the transplanted eye. The primary objective of the surgery was the survival of the globe, which was successfully achieved, providing a cosmetically significant result. This procedure offers hope for the future of vision science and transplant medicine, providing an opportunity to study human eye recovery and potentially pave the way for future sight restoration.