Eye transplant recovery leaves doctors "truly amazed"

A veteran who underwent the world’s first whole-eye transplant has recently swapped his old license plate, which depicted his injured face, for a new one celebrating his recovery.

Aaron James, a utility line worker, suffered severe facial injuries in June 2021 when he accidentally came into contact with a 7,200-volt live wire. In May 2023, doctors performed the groundbreaking whole-eye and partial-face transplant, marking a significant milestone in medical science. James has since resumed his daily life.

"I'm pretty much back to being a normal guy, doing normal things," James said in a press release from NYU Langone Health in New York City. "Overall, this has been the most transformative year of my life."

Though his vision has not yet been restored, doctors remain optimistic about the future possibilities of the transplant.

The accident was life-altering. James has no recollection of the incident, as CBS News previously reported. He was rushed to a regional burn unit after accidentally touching a live wire while holding a ground wire in his left hand, according to NYU Langone.

Dr. Eddie Rodriguez, one of the surgeons involved in James' transplant, described his condition as dire. “He was in bad shape. They had to amputate his arm above the elbow and his face was severely damaged,” Dr. Rodriguez noted.

James spent six weeks in a medically induced coma and over three months in the burn unit of a Dallas hospital, as reported by NYU Langone. Upon awakening, he faced the loss of his nose, front teeth, left eye, and dominant left hand, as well as significant damage to his chin, 20% of his tongue, left cheek, and lips.

**Recovery Process**

A National Guard veteran with three tours in Iraq, Kuwait, and Egypt, James underwent numerous reconstructive surgeries but continued to struggle with eating, drinking, and speaking. He subsequently agreed to a face transplant, which included the world’s first donor eye transplant.

Though James regained his ability to taste, smell, and eat solid foods, his sight has not been restored. However, doctors are hopeful for future possibilities, as tests show that the eye's light-sensitive nerve cells survived the transplant.

“We are truly amazed by Aaron’s recovery and the absence of rejection episodes,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “Our careful matching process and unique immunosuppression regimen have set a new standard in preventing early rejection.”

**Moving Forward**

Dr. Paul Glimcher, director of NYU Langone's Neuroscience Institute, highlighted the next critical step in eye transplants: preserving nerve cells to restore connections to the brain. “The goal is to ensure that all eye cells survive the transplant to reestablish these crucial connections, as sight relies heavily on the brain's function, not just the eyes,” Dr. Glimcher explained.

Doctors will continue to work with James to explore how sight might be restored in future patients.

"I feel honored to be patient zero," James said. "Even though I can't see out of my new eye, I’ve regained my quality of life, and this marks progress toward helping others in the future."

James also looks forward to a personal milestone: sending his daughter off to college. 

“I’ve been given a second chance at life, and I cherish every moment,” he added.