Man receives world’s 1st full eye transplant in major surgical breakthrough

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Surgeons in New York believe they may be one step closer to curing blindness after an Arkansas man became the first known patient to successfully receive a complete eye transplant in May.

NYU Langone Health announced the accomplishment on Thursday. Representatives for the academic medical centre said 46-year-old military veteran Aaron James received a donated eye — and donated optic nerve — and underwent a rare partial face transplant.

James, a former lineman, was injured in June 2021 after surviving a workplace accident involving high-voltage power lines. The 7,200-volt electric shock caused James to lose his left eye and much of his face.

James’ right eye is still functioning.

Less than two years after his injury, James became the first person in known medical history to ever successfully undergo a whole-eye transplant, though he does not have sight through the donated eye.

It is unclear if he will ever regain his sight in the new eye, though James told The Associated Press he has regained some sensation in the region since the surgery.

“The transplanted left eye has shown remarkable signs of health, including direct blood flow to the retina — the area at the back of the eye that receives light and sends images to the brain,” Langone Health wrote in a statement.

The surgery took 21 hours and replaced half of James’ face.

More than 140 healthcare professionals were involved in the procedure.

“This achievement demonstrates our capacity to embrace the most difficult challenges and drive continuous advancements in the field of transplantation and beyond,” said Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, who led the surgery.

“The