First Successful Whole Eye Transplant Reported

Aaron James, a 47-year-old military veteran from Arkansas, underwent the world's first whole-eye and partial face transplant in May 2023 following a severe electrical accident that left him disfigured. Despite not regaining vision in the transplanted eye, the retina has shown signs of functionality, and the eye maintains normal pressure and blood flow. The surgery, which involved over 140 medical professionals and lasted 21 hours, has dramatically improved James's quality of life, allowing him to eat solid food, smell, and taste again. Medical experts view this case as a promising step toward future eye transplants that could potentially restore vision. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, highlight the challenges of regenerating the optic nerve but offer hope for significant advancements in eye transplant surgery.