Currently, a complete human eye transplant, meaning the removal and replacement of the entire eye, is not possible. While research is ongoing with the goal of achieving full eye transplants in the future, this procedure is not currently available.
Here's a breakdown of what's feasible now and what's being worked towards:
Current Transplantation Procedures
| Procedure | Description | Success |
|---|---|---|
| Corneal Transplant | Replacement of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. | Common and successful in restoring sight. |
Future Goals: Whole Eye Transplants
- Researchers are actively pursuing the possibility of complete eye transplants, aiming to restore vision in cases of severe eye damage.
- The main challenge lies in reconnecting the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.
- Although significant advancements are being made in this field, it is not currently a viable option.
- According to the reference, these complete eye transplants could be within a decade, but it can't be done at this time.
Therefore, when someone receives a transplant today, it's most likely a corneal transplant. Donor corneas have made this surgery available. While research into full eye transplants is being conducted, such transplants cannot be performed at this time.
