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