US man gets first whole-eye transplant in medical breakthrough, but he has yet to see with the eye

Aaron James, a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the United States, has made medical history by undergoing the world's first whole-eye transplant. Aaron suffered severe injuries, losing his nose, mouth, and left eye in a work-related accident.

A surgical team at NYU Langone Health in New York successfully performed this groundbreaking procedure, as reported by the BBC. Additionally, Aaron underwent a partial face transplant.

Details of the procedure

Aaron James, a military veteran, underwent a 21-hour surgery on May 27, 2023, to receive a whole left eye and socket. This included the transplantation of orbital bones and surrounding eye tissues around the optic nerve, along with a partial face.

The partial face transplant involved a new nose, left upper and lower eyelids, a left eyebrow, upper and lower lips, and underlying skull, cheek, nasal, and chin bone segments.

Despite the eye transplant not restoring Aaron James's vision, this pioneering procedure holds significance for the field of transplant medicine.

Medical insights

• Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, the chief surgeon, emphasized that while vision restoration would be wonderful, the primary goal was to successfully perform the technical operation.
• The surgical team utilised adult stem cells from the donor's bone marrow in combination with the donor eye.
• This enabled the eye to be injected into James' optic nerve connection.

Recovery and hope

• Following the transplant, Aaron James has regained the ability to taste, smell, and eat solid foods. Organs for the transplant were sourced from a single donor after a three-month wait.
• The total time from Aaron's extensive injuries in 2021, leading to the loss of his left eye, to the transplant was less than two years.
• While Aaron cannot currently see out of the transplanted eye, his medical team notes incredible signs of health.
• Despite this, Aaron remains hopeful that his vision might improve over time. He expressed, "If I can see out of it, that’s great. But if it’ll kick-start the next path in the medical field, then I’m all for it."

Background of the accident

Aaron James, 46, worked as a high-voltage power lineman. In June 2021, during a night shift in Mississippi, an accident occurred when his face accidentally touched a live wire, resulting in a massive 7,200-volt electric shock and extensive injuries to his face.