In Italy, a breakthrough in ophthalmology has been achieved: doctors have performed the world's first successful transplant of the central part of the retina, restoring sight to a woman who had been blinded in an accident, reports infohub.kz.
The complex six-hour surgery was carried out at the Molinette hospital in Turin. The surgical team, led by Professor Michele Reibaldi, transplanted the macula—the central area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision—for the first time in medical history. In addition to the macula, the cornea, sclera, and associated connective tissues were also transplanted simultaneously.
The patient was 67-year-old Elena, who lost her sight several years ago as a result of a severe road accident. In the crash, the optic nerve of her left eye was completely severed, but the remaining tissues were undamaged. In the right eye, the situation was reversed: the optic nerve was intact, but the retina and cornea were destroyed.
Professor Reibaldi decided to combine healthy fragments from both eyes. Surgeons extracted undamaged tissue from the left eye and transplanted it into the right eye, connecting it to the functioning optic nerve. Immediately after the bandages were removed, the woman was able to see and recognize her son and her dog named Joe. Subsequent examinations confirmed that the tissue had successfully taken.