A man who lost half of his face in a work accident has received the world's first whole-eye transplant. He may even see out of it one day.

• A team at NYU Langone has performed the world's first whole-eye transplant.
• The patient was an Arkansas man who lost his eye and half his face in a work accident.

An Arkansas man who lost his eye and half his face in a work-related electrocution accident has received the world's first whole-eye transplant.

And he may even see out of it one day.

Aaron James, a 46-year-old military veteran and high-voltage lineman, miraculously survived a 7200-volt electric shock when a live wire touched his face in June 2021, according to a press release from NYU Langone, which performed the transplant.

His job was one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the US and linemen who receive a high-voltage shock like he did usually don't survive, the hospital said.

The accident left James without his left arm, left eye, entire nose and lips, front teeth, left cheek area, and chin.

A team at NYU Langone in New York City, led by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, began working with James just two months after his injury.

Then, after finding a compatible donor in May of this year, 140 health professionals performed the partial face and whole eye transplant in an operation that took 21 hours, according to the hospital.

Rodriguez's team has done other ground-breaking transplants in the past few years, but this was the first known whole-eye transplant ever done.

And it has been wildly successful, the hospital said.

In the six months since the surgery, James' eye has shown "remarkable signs of success, including direct blood flow to the retina," NYU Langone said. Though nothing is certain, James may one day be able to regain sight in his left eye, the hospital said.

James, who returned to Arkansas in September with his wife and daughter, has already gotten back his ability to taste, smell, and eat solid foods, according to the hospital.

"I'm grateful beyond words for the donor and his family, who have given me a second chance at life during their own time of great difficulty. I hope the family finds solace in knowing that part of the donor lives on with me," James said in the press release, adding that he hopes his story "can serve as inspiration for those facing severe facial and ocular injuries."