# World-first eye tissue transplant in Italy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/world-first-eye-tissue-transplant-in-italy
> Updated: 2026-08-31T05:40:58.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Surgeons at the Molinette Hospital University Ophthalmological Clinic in Turin, Italy, performed a world-first ophthalmic procedure to restore vision to a 67-year-old woman named Elena. The patient had been blind for five years following a car accident that caused irreversible damage to her left optic nerve and structural damage to her right eye.

During a six-hour surgery led by Dr. Michele Reibaldi, medical teams transferred healthy but non-functional tissue from the left eye to the right eye. This complex procedure included the cornea, sclera, and conjunctiva, as well as the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for fine detail—marking the first time the macula has been transplanted internationally.

The surgery aimed to move anatomical material from the eye unable to communicate with the brain to the eye that maintained neural connectivity. Following the intervention, the patient has begun to progressively regain vision and was able to recognize her son and guide dog.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Turin surgeons perform world-first eye surgery to restore vision

Surgeons in Turin successfully restored vision to a 67-year-old woman by transferring healthy retinal and corneal tissue from one eye to the other in a world-first medical procedure.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turin-surgeons-perform-world-first-eye-surgery-to-restore-vision

### 2026-08-28: Italian surgeons perform world-first eye part transplant

Italian surgeons performed a world-first procedure, transplanting parts of a non-functional eye, including the macula, to restore vision to a 67-year-old woman blinded by a car accident.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-surgeons-perform-world-first-eye-part-transplant

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Cite as: World-first eye tissue transplant in Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/world-first-eye-tissue-transplant-in-italy