US Veteran Aaron James Thrives One Year After Historic Eye and Face Transplant

Sep 9, 2024, 05:05 PM

Aaron James, an Arkansas resident and US veteran, has made remarkable progress one year after undergoing the world's first whole-eye and partial face transplant. Despite not having vision in the transplanted eye, the eye itself remains alive and responsive to light, showing signs of retina function. The surgery, performed at NYU Langone, has been deemed a success, with surgeons expressing amazement at James' recovery and the successful revascularization of the transplanted eye. James reports feeling great and has experienced significant improvements in his quality of life. He describes emotional moments such as kissing his wife, eating pizza for the first time since his severe electrical accident, and trading in his old license plate for a new one showing off his recovery. James refers to his recovery as a 'second chance.'