A U.S. military veteran, Aaron James, who received the world’s first whole-eye transplant in combination with a rare partial-face transplant, has shown remarkable recovery one year after the procedure, according to researchers from NYU Langone Health. James, 46, lost most of his face and an arm in a 2021 accident while working as a high-voltage utility lineman.
Despite not regaining sight in the donor eye yet, doctors are optimistic about the future, noting that the donor eye has maintained normal pressure, blood flow, and size, unlike animal trials where donor eyes often shrink. This breakthrough could lead to more advancements in complex sensory transplants.
Incredible milestones in recovery
James’s recovery has amazed his doctors, with Dr. Vaidehi Dedania, his ophthalmologist, praising the results. The transplant surgery, which involved more than 140 healthcare professionals, lasted 21 hours. The donor eye came from the same individual who provided the face, a male in his 30s. To encourage healing, stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow were injected into the optic nerve.
In a significant development, electroretinography tests showed that the rods and cones (light-sensitive nerve cells in the retina) survived the transplant, a crucial step that could eventually lead to the restoration of sight.
A transformative year for James
James, who did not lose sight in his right eye, has returned to a relatively normal life, achieving major milestones like eating solid foods and regaining his sense of smell. He expressed deep gratitude for this second chance, remarking that this past year has been the most transformative of his life.
As he now focuses on sending his daughter Alice to college, James continues to serve as an inspiration for the future of medical research into whole-eye transplants. Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, director of the Face Transplant Program at NYU, emphasized that James’s case is critical to understanding how to restore sight in transplanted eyes.