World’s first eye transplant was a giant leap forward – but vision remains elusive

Three years ago, Aaron James, a utility lineman, lost half of his face and his arm when he was struck by a high-voltage electrical cable.

Last year, the 47-year-old received a face and whole-eye transplant – the first of its kind. The surgery took 21 hours and involved 140 healthcare professionals.

James is making remarkable progress, as recently reported in Jama, a medical journal. Although he cannot see out of the transplanted eye, it continues to maintain normal pressure and blood flow – and it hasn’t shrunk (something that happened when eye transplants were previously attempted in animals). Doctors said the surgery laid the “foundation for further advancements and ongoing research”.