In a groundbreaking achievement, US surgeons at NYU Langone Health have successfully performed the world’s first whole-eye transplant on a human. Despite the patient, Aaron James, not regaining sight in the transplanted eye six months after the 21-hour surgery, the grafted eye shows promising signs of health, including well-functioning blood vessels and a positive-looking retina. Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, leading the surgical team, emphasized the significant leap forward in the field, as previous transplants were limited to the cornea. While the transplanted eye is not currently connected to the brain, the team injected adult stem cells to encourage optic nerve healing. The groundbreaking procedure opens new possibilities, even if sight restoration isn’t immediate.
Historic breakthrough: US surgeons perform first whole-eye transplant.
