Italian surgeons restore sight to blind 67‑year‑old with world‑first eye tissue transplant

eye transplant macula Molinette Hospital Elena Michele Reibandi

Italian ophthalmologists at Molinette Hospital in Turin performed the first known transplantation of the macular (yellow spot) and other ocular tissues from one eye to the other. The six‑hour operation, led by Professor Michele Reibandi, removed the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva and the central retina from the patient’s blind left eye and implanted them into the damaged right eye.

The patient, Elena, a 67‑year‑old woman who had been blind for five years after a car accident destroyed the optic nerve of her left eye and severely injured the retina of her right eye, regained vision. Within weeks she reported seeing colors again, saying, “I see colors again.” French ophthalmology expert Professor Michel Pacc, head of the ophthalmology department at the National Hospital of Kenz‑Ben in Paris, confirmed the procedure as a global first. Early results are encouraging, though further study is needed to assess long‑term function of the transplanted macula.

Entities: Elena · Michel Pacc · Michele Reibandi · Molinette Hospital · Turin

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Surgeons removed the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva and the macula (yellow spot) from the blind left eye and transplanted them into the right eye. (procedure details)
[● 3 SOURCES] Italian surgeons performed the first ever transplantation of the macular (yellow spot) from one eye to the other. (world‑first eye tissue transplant)
[● 3 SOURCES] The operation lasted nearly six hours and was described as very complex. (operation duration)
[● 3 SOURCES] The patient, Elena, a 67‑year‑old woman, had been blind for five years after a car accident that damaged the optic nerve of her left eye and the retina of her right eye. (patient background)
[● 3 SOURCES] The surgery was led by Professor Michele Reibandi. (lead surgeon)
[● 3 SOURCES] French ophthalmology professor Michel Pacc confirmed the procedure as a world‑first. (independent verification)
[● 3 SOURCES] Elena regained vision, reporting that she can see colors again. (patient outcome)
[● 3 SOURCES] The surgery was performed at Molinette Hospital in Turin, Italy. (location of procedure)
[● 3 SOURCES] Italian doctors performed the first‑ever transplant of the macula, the central part of the retina, in a human patient. (world-first retina‑macula transplant)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The surgery was performed at Molinette Hospital in Turin and lasted about six hours. (location and duration)
[● 3 SOURCES] The patient, a 67‑year‑old woman named Elena, had been blind for five years after a severe traffic accident. (patient background)
[○ 1 SOURCE] French ophthalmology expert Michel Paques called the procedure a world‑first. (expert endorsement)