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Surgeons in New York announce world's first eye transplant (www.reuters.com)

submitted 11 months ago by Espiritdescali to c/futurology

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[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

You don't. The retina to the brain is a whole package. This is a cosmetic transplant. They don't expect him to regain any vision.

Edit: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/did-surgeons-just-transplant-whole-eye

Studies have shown optic nerve regeneration is possible in some lower vertebrates, such as fish and frogs, but there’s no evidence it can work in mammals.

[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

seems fairly complex and risky for just a cosmetic procedure eh? are glass eyes that different? I'm struggeling to find a rationale for whole eye transplant with far less risky alternatives, especially if its purely cosmetic. But then again I'm not an optimetrist lol.

[–] roguetrick@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Since he was already having half his face transplanted, I think they did it just because why not. They wanted to prove they could re-vascularize the retina at least. He was aware of the risks and it likely already came from the same donor anyway so it's not like it created more of a rejection risk than whatever musculature they already transplanted. If the retina didn't get successfully revascularized or it was some sort of very localized rejection, they'd just enucleate the eye and put in a prosthetic.

[–] Kyle_The_G@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

makes sense. well eye transplants are a thing now, thats fun.