Aaron James, an electrical lineman who lost an eye and much of his face to an electrical accident, is the first person to receive a face transplant that includes a whole eye.
The operation involved several innovative techniques, including 3D-printed guides that helped surgeons fit the donor’s bone to James’s face and a transplanted piece of carotid artery that provides the donated eye with its own blood supply.
The eye responds to light, although researchers don’t believe it will connect to James’s brain well enough to restore his sight. “100/10, made medical history,” James’s daughter posted on TikTok. “Still bald headed, tho.”
Transplants can restore sight, mobility and even reproductive rights. The first womb was transplanted in Turkey more than 10 years ago, giving hope to women who were unable to conceive.
Beard transplants, a cosmetic procedure, are growing more common as Middle Eastern men enjoy wearing beards as a sign of religious devoutness and masculinity.
Success of the recent whole eye and face transplant was reported in the medical journal Jama. While the patient could not exactly “see” the researchers say that there was successful regrowth of blood vessels, meaning:
“The successful revascularization of the transplanted eye achieved in this study may serve as a step towards the goal of globe transplant for restoration of vision.”
