Groundbreaking Face Transplant with Eye Integration: One Year Later, No Signs of Rejection

Witness the ⁣groundbreaking story of Aaron James, an electrical lineman who ‌underwent the first-ever partial face transplant that included an eye in May ⁢2023. ‌A ‍year later,⁤ the results are astonishing‌ – no signs of rejection and successful blood flow to the transplanted eye. However, despite ‍these ‌positive outcomes, James still cannot ‍see through ⁤his new eye⁤ due to withered nerve connections‍ as reported by a medical team⁢ from New York University Langone Health in the Journal of the American Medical Association on September 9.
The⁢ concept of a ‍whole eye transplant has long been considered a potential solution for blindness. Yet, experts highlight numerous challenges hindering this approach, particularly ‌in reestablishing nerve connections crucial for ⁤restoring sight. These connections lack regenerative capabilities after injury.
In 2021, James suffered a devastating high-voltage electrical injury that resulted in severe damage to⁢ his left eye, nose, ‍lips, and facial tissue. Finally finding hope‌ in⁢ May 2023 when ⁣a suitable deceased donor was identified and ⁢the intricate transplantation ⁣surgery lasting 21 hours was successfully performed. At the ⁤one-year ⁢mark post-surgery, James expressed significant improvements in his overall quality of life.

Date:‌ September 9th, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Source: ‍Post originally published on www.sciencenews.org