James is recovering well from the dual transplant last May and the donated eye looks remarkably healthy. Whatever happens next, James' surgery offers scientists an unprecedented window into how the human eye tries to heal. The hurdle is how to regrow the optic nerve, although animal studies are making strides, Goldberg added. James’ optic nerve clearly hasn't healed. Yet when light was flashed into the donated eye during an MRI, the scan recorded some sort of brain signaling.

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Persons: Aaron James ’, James, ” James, there’s, ”, “ We’re, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, James ’, Jeffrey Goldberg, Goldberg, ” Goldberg, Allie, “, Meagan James, Vaidehi Dedania, Steven Galetta, David Klassen, “ we’re Organizations: — Surgeons, NYU Langone Health, NYU, Associated Press, Stanford University, United Network, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Springs , Arkansas, U.S