Eye transplant shows response
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The world's first whole eye transplant has shown promising response to light.
In 2021, a 46-year-old man who sustained severe facial injuries from a high-voltage electrical accident underwent a pioneering surgery to replace his left eye and large portions of his face.
Now, though the recipient of the combined whole eye and face transplant cannot yet see through the eye, tests reveal that the retina is responding to stimuli.
According to the scientists behind the operation, this suggests that the transplant was successful in maintaining some eye function.
Dr Eduardo D Rodriguez, the lead author of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), says it is an important breakthrough.
“Many experts did not think we would even be here, but we have successfully transplanted and maintained an eye without immune rejection,” he said.
He noted that while the recipient has not yet regained vision, the eye is showing promising signs such as normal pressure and healthy blood flow, which are vital for future efforts to restore sight.
“Now, the next challenge is understanding how to restore sight,” Dr Rodriguez said.
This is the first time a whole eye transplant has been combined with a face transplant without rejection by the recipient’s immune system.
The patient's transplanted eye demonstrated retinal responses to light stimuli, as shown by electroretinographic measurements.
Tests have confirmed that the transplanted eye's blood vessels were successfully reconnected, maintaining retinal function. However, no light perception has been recorded one year after the surgery.
In addition to addressing the aesthetic and functional reconstruction of the face, the transplant offers new hope for developing methods to restore vision.
The case shows the potential of ‘vascularised composite allotransplantation’ - a technique that allows the transplantation of complex tissues like skin, muscle, and nerves from one individual to another.
The successful transplant of the eye, especially in the absence of rejection, is considered a major achievement and a stepping stone towards the goal of restoring vision in those who have lost their eyes due to injury or disease.
With one year of positive progress, the medical team aims to continue their research to unlock the mechanisms that could eventually lead to the restoration of sight in future patients.
“I look forward to continuing this research in collaboration across academia to accelerate these discoveries with unique tools and the best therapies,” Dr Rodriguez said.
The medical community is cautiously optimistic, noting that this first-of-its-kind procedure has already laid the groundwork for future breakthroughs in the complex field of eye transplantation.