Pioneering surgery: Aaron James receives groundbreaking eye and face transplant
The world's first transplant of an entire eye and a portion of the face has been performed at New York University's Langone Health Center. The patient, a survivor of a high-voltage electrical accident at work, underwent reconstructive surgery. It is yet uncertain whether he will regain his sight.
The procedure involved transplanting the entire left eye and part of the face, with material sourced from a single donor. This operation qualifies as the first of its kind in medical history.
Aaron James of Hot Springs, Arkansas suffered a devastating accident while working as a high-voltage installer in June 2021. He survived an electrical shock of 7200 volts.
Jones inadvertently touched a live wire with his face, resulting in extensive injuries. These included the loss of his left eye, nose, lips, front teeth, and left cheek, as well as severe damage to his left hand. His chin was exposed down to the bone.
James underwent surgery on May 27, 2023. Now, several months later, doctors from New York University's Langone Health Center are reporting success.
The operation was led by Eduardo D. Rodriguez, director of the face transplantation program, and took approximately 21 hours. A team of 140 surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare workers took part in the procedure.
Breakthrough surgery in U.S.: 46-year-old veteran receives new eye
It is still uncertain whether the patient will recover his sight, but the transplanted left eye is showing gradual signs of function. Doctors are observing blood flow to the retina and the back of the eye - the region that accepts light and relays images to the brain.
Although the eye is not yet processing images, the New York medical team remains hopeful that vision will return over time. They anticipate that this pioneering project will contribute to the advancement of transplantation medicine.
Certainly, the man's appearance has significantly transformed, as he was miraculously saved. As Dr. Rodriguez notes, witnessing a patient who has battled for his life for months, walking, possessing a face, and even growing facial hair, is truly remarkable.
"It's a testament to modern medicine," says Dr. Rodriguez, adding that the operation carried inherent risks. Both patient and doctors braved these risks, knowing it would be their first attempt, with Aaron serving as the pioneer, or "patient zero".
No medical team worldwide has ever performed a successful human eye transplant on a living patient before. "This is completely uncharted territory," Rodriguez admitted.
The May surgery has significantly improved Aaron's life. He is now able to smell and taste, eagerly anticipating Thanksgiving, marked with the traditional turkey dinner, on November 23.
The patient also hopes that one day, miraculously, he will regain sight with the donor's eye. Doctors cannot guarantee this yet. However, if the eye transplant succeeds in restoring any form of nerve function or visual signals, it could mark a significant medical breakthrough for individuals who have lost an eye due to injury or cancer.
