'Incredible' recovery for US soldier following the first-ever eye transplant

A U.S. military veteran who underwent the world’s first whole-eye transplant has made remarkable progress a year later and has been able to resume his normal life, according to researchers.

Aaron James, 46, also received a rare partial-face transplant after losing most of his face in a 2021 accident while working as a high-voltage utility lineman.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health have reported that his donor eye has maintained normal pressure, blood flow, and size, which is notable since donor eyes in animals often shrink after transplants.

Although Mr. James has not yet regained sight in the transplanted eye, researchers remain hopeful that he may eventually regain vision.

They expressed amazement at his recovery, with Dr. Vaidehi Dedania, Mr. James’s ophthalmologist, stating, “The outcomes we’re seeing after this procedure are quite incredible and could pave the way for new clinical protocols and inspire further research into complex transplants involving critical sensory organs.”

The study also highlighted that a test called electroretinography, which measures the retina's electrical response to light, showed that the donor eye’s rods and cones, the light-sensitive nerve cells, survived the transplant.

This electrical response, which converts light into signals that the brain can interpret for vision, offers hope for the future of whole-eye transplants with the aim of restoring sight.

Aaron James, who did not lose sight in his right eye, underwent a groundbreaking 21-hour surgery last May involving over 140 healthcare professionals.

The procedure was the first of its kind in the world, combining a whole-eye transplant with a partial-face transplant. The donor organs came from a single male donor in his 30s, and during the surgery, doctors injected adult stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow into the optic nerve to encourage its repair.

Since the surgery, Mr. James has achieved significant milestones, such as eating solid foods and regaining his sense of smell. He expressed his satisfaction with the progress, stating, “I’m pretty much back to being a normal guy, doing normal things.”

As the 46-year-old military veteran becomes only the 19th person in the U.S. to receive a face transplant and the first in the world to undergo a whole-eye transplant, researchers are now focused on exploring how to restore sight to the transplanted eye. Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, senior author of the study and director of the Face Transplant Program at NYU, is leading these efforts.

Meanwhile, Mr. James is looking forward to sending his daughter, Alice, off to college and reflects on his experience, saying, “This has been the most transformative year of my life. I’ve been given the gift of a second chance, and I don’t take a single moment for granted.”