Doctors hail world’s first eye transplant – even though patient can’t see

Doctors are “truly amazed” by the results of the world’s first eye transplant, despite the patient being unable to see out of the donated organ. Aaron James, a worker on high-voltage lines, survived a 7200-volt electric shock in June 2021 and lost much of the left side of his face, including his nose, lips, front teeth and eye as well as his left arm. The 42-year-old Arkansas native and 10-year military veteran underwent a 21-hour operation in May 2023 during which he had a half-face transplant, which included an entire eye, from a brain-dead male donor in his 30s.

It was the first time a whole-eye transplant had been performed in medical history and included a retina and optic nerve as well as some blood vessels. Scientists and doctors who performed the pioneering work provided an update on the procedure in the medical journal Jama , saying the transplant had not been rejected, something never before managed..