The world’s first complete eye transplant has been performed on US military veteran. In an extraordinary medical feat, a surgical team hailing from NYU Langone Health in New York has successfully performed the world’s inaugural whole-eye and partial-face transplant.
The recipient of this groundbreaking surgery is Aaron James, a 46-year-old military veteran from Hot Springs, Arkansas, who miraculously survived a high-voltage electrical accident during his work as a lineman in June 2021.
The exhaustive 21-hour surgical procedure carried out on May 27, 2023, involved transplanting the complete left eye and a segment of the face from a singular donor.
This unparalleled achievement not only signifies the first-ever human whole-eye transplant in medical history but also represents the sole successful instance of such a combined transplant procedure.
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The visionary surgery, led by the esteemed Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, Director of the Face Transplant Program at NYU Langone, engaged a formidable team of over 140 surgeons, nurses, and healthcare professionals.
Dr. Rodriguez, also the Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Chair of the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone, spearheaded the groundbreaking endeavor.
While the question of whether Aaron James will regain his sight remains uncertain, the transplanted left eye has exhibited remarkable signs of health, including the establishment of direct blood flow to the retina—the crucial region at the back of the eye responsible for receiving light and transmitting images to the brain.
James’s life-altering accident in June 2021 resulted in the loss of his left eye. The donor, a compassionate young man in his 30s, hailed from a family fervently committed to supporting organ donation.
Beyond the transformative face and eye transplant, this benevolent donor went on to save three additional lives by donating his kidneys, liver, and pancreas to recipients spanning ages 20 to 70.
Leonard Achan, RN, MA, ANP, President, and CEO of LiveOnNY, expressed gratitude for the donor’s family, stating, “He, in support by his family, generously donated tissues leading to this successful face and eye transplant, but also saved three other individuals between the ages of 20 and 70, donating his kidneys, liver, and pancreas.”
This groundbreaking achievement not only holds immense personal significance for Aaron James but also propels the medical field into a realm of new possibilities for advancements in vision therapies.
As world’s first complete eye transplant performed on US military veteran, the surgery serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the medical community and underscores the potential for future innovations in the field of transplant procedures.
