Whole eye and face transplant recipient James
Aaron James, an electrical lineman who lost an eye and much of his face to an electrical accident, has become the first person to undergo a face transplant that includes a whole eye.
The groundbreaking operation utilized cutting-edge techniques such as 3D-printed guides to assist surgeons in fitting the donor’s bone to James’s face, along with a transplanted piece of carotid artery to provide the donated eye with its own blood supply.
While the transplanted eye responds to light, it is unlikely to restore James’s sight fully due to difficulties in connecting to his brain. Nevertheless, his daughter expressed joy on TikTok, stating, “100/10, made medical history. Still bald-headed, tho.”
Transplants are not limited to eyes and faces, as evidenced by the successful womb transplant performed in Turkey over a decade ago, offering hope to women struggling with infertility.
For Middle Eastern men who desire fuller beards, beard transplants have become increasingly popular as a cosmetic procedure, serving as a symbol of religious devotion and masculinity.
The successful whole eye and face transplant was documented in the medical journal Jama, with researchers highlighting the regrowth of blood vessels in the transplanted eye as a significant achievement.
“The successful revascularization of the transplanted eye in this study may pave the way for future globe transplants to restore vision,” the researchers noted.
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