Surgeons perform first whole eye transplant

Surgeons have performed the worlds first transplant of an entire human eye. An accident with high-voltage power lines had destroyed most of Aaron Jamess face and one eye. His right eye still works. But surgeons at NYU Langone Health hoped replacing the missing one would yield better cosmetic results for his new face, by supporting the transplanted eye socket and lid.  Though the surgery was successful, its far too soon to know if the man will ever see through his new left eye. The NYU team announced Thursday, Nov. 9, that James is recovering well from the dual transplant last May and the donated eye looks remarkably healthy. It feels good. I still dont have any movement in it yet. My eyelid, I cant blink yet. But Im getting sensation now, James told the Associated Press as doctors examined his progress recently.  You got to start somewhere, theres got to be a first person somewhere, added James, 46, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Maybe youll learn something from it that will help the next person. Today, transplants of the cornea the clear tissue in front of the eye are common to treat certain types of vision loss. But transplanting the whole eye the eyeball, its blood supply and the critical optic nerve that must connect it to the brain is considered a moonshot in the quest to cure blindness. Whatever happens next, Jamess surgery offers scientists an unprecedented window into how the human eye tries to heal. Were not claiming that we are going to restore sight, said Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, NYUs plastic surgery chief, who led the transplant. But theres no doubt in my mind we are one step closer. Some specialists had feared the eye would quickly shrivel like a raisin. Instead, when Rodriguez propped open Jamess left eyelid last month, the donated hazel-colored eye was as plump and full of fluid as his own blue eye. Doctors see good blood flow and no sign of rejection. Now researchers have begun analyzing scans of Jamess brain that detected some puzzling signals from that all-important but injured optic nerve.  One scientist who has long studied how to make eye transplants a reality called the surgery exciting. Its an amazing validation of animal experiments that have kept transplanted eyes alive, said Dr Jeffrey Goldberg, chair of ophthalmology at Californias Stanford University. The hurdle is how to regrow the optic nerve, although animal studies are making strides, Goldberg added. He praised the NYU teams audacity in even aiming for optic nerve repair and hopes the transplant will spur more research. Were really on the precipice of being able to do this, Goldberg said. James was working for a power line company in June 2021 when he was shocked by a live wire. He nearly died. Ultimately he lost his left arm, requiring a prosthetic. His damaged left eye was so painful it had to be removed. Multiple reconstructive surgeries couldnt repair extensive facial injuries including his missing nose and lips. James pushed through physical therapy until he was strong enough to escort his daughter Allie to a high school homecoming ceremony, wearing a face mask and eye patch. Still he required breathing and feeding tubes, and longed to smell, taste and eat solid food again. In his mind and his heart, its him so I didnt care that, you know, he didnt have a nose. But I did care that it bothered him, said his wife, Meagan James.  Face transplants remain rare and risky. Jamess is only the 19th in the US.The post Surgeons perform first whole eye transplant appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.