Eye transplantation facts for kids

Eye transplantation is a special type of surgery where a whole eye is moved from one person (a donor) to another person (the recipient). This is different from a cornea transplant, which only replaces the front clear part of the eye. Transplanting a whole eye is very complex. It means moving the entire eyeball and connecting it to the new body.

Why is whole eye transplant difficult?

Transplanting a whole eye is much harder than other organ transplants. The main challenge is connecting the optic nerve. This nerve sends signals from the eye to the brain. If the nerve isn't connected perfectly, the person cannot see. Doctors are working hard to solve this problem. They also need to make sure the new eye gets enough blood. This helps it stay healthy in its new home.

What challenges do doctors face?

Doctors face many challenges with whole eye transplants. One big challenge is making sure the body does not reject the new eye. This is called transplant rejection. The body's immune system might see the new eye as foreign. It could then try to attack it. Patients need special medicines to stop this from happening. These medicines are called immunosuppressants.

Another challenge is how people feel about getting a new eye. They might wonder about their identity. They also think about the risks and benefits of the surgery. Doctors also consider how to get permission for eye donation. They also think about how to decide who gets an eye if they become available.

A brief history of eye transplants

Doctors have tried to transplant eyes for a long time. Early attempts faced many problems. But each try helped doctors learn more.

Early attempts at eye transplant surgery

In 1885, a doctor named Chibret tried an eye transplant. He replaced a girl's eye with an eye from a rabbit. This surgery did not work for long. The girl's body rejected the rabbit eye after 15 days. This happened because there were no good medicines to stop rejection back then.

In 1969, a doctor named Conrad Moore said he had transplanted a whole eye. But he later said his claim was not true. These early attempts showed how difficult whole eye transplants are. They also showed how much more research was needed.

The first successful human eye transplant

In November 2023, something amazing happened. Surgeons at NYU Langone Health announced the first successful whole eye transplant. This surgery was part of a bigger face transplant. The operation took 21 hours.

The patient, Aaron James, had lost the left side of his face. This included his eye, nose, and mouth. This happened in a serious accident involving a high-voltage power line. Doctors transplanted a new eye into his face.

What happened after the 2023 surgery?

The new eye has healthy blood vessels. The part of the eye that senses light, called the retina, also looks good. However, the eye is not yet connected to Aaron's brain. This means he cannot see through the transplanted eye.

Doctors are trying to help the optic nerve heal. They have used Adult stem cells from his bone marrow. These cells were put into the optic nerve. The main goal of the surgery was to successfully move the eye. If Aaron gets some vision back, it would be a wonderful bonus. This surgery is a huge step forward in medical science.

See also

• Corneal transplantation