Aaron James lost most of his face in an accident while performing high-voltage power line maintenance in 2021, according to the BBC. James, 46, also underwent a partial face transplant, which is performed on very few people, during the same operation.
Researchers at New York University’s Langone Health Medical Center say the transplanted eye maintains normal pressure and blood flow. Similarly, in animals that have received transplants, the donor eye has been observed to shrink after surgery.
James’ vision in his donor eye has not returned, but researchers hope he will be able to see again one day. Researchers who monitor Aaron James say they are “in awe” of his progress.
“The results we have achieved after the operation are extraordinary. These results could inspire research into transplants for critical sensory organs,” said James’ ophthalmologist, Vaidehi Dedania.
LIVE DONOR EYE CELLS
Experts who published the post-transplant process as research performed an electroretinography test on James, which measures the electrical response of the retina to light. This test showed that the light-sensitive nerve cells in the donor eye survived the transplant.
The team behind the study say the results give hope that eye transplants could restore vision in the future. James underwent a 21-hour surgery last May that involved more than 140 healthcare professionals.
RETURNING TO NORMAL LIFE
The donated face and eye came from a male donor in his 30s. During the surgery, doctors injected adult stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow into the optic nerve to enhance the repair. Medical research published about James’ recovery highlights significant progress after the transplant, such as eating solid foods and being able to smell again. “I’m pretty much back to being a regular guy, being able to do normal things,” James said of his recovery. The 46-year-old veteran became the 19th person in the United States to receive a face transplant and the first to receive a full eye transplant.
Eye transplant surgeries present many challenges due to the complex structure and functions of this sensory organ.