Ethical Considerations of Whole-Eye Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Bioethics

Background:

• Whole eye transplantation (WET) is an experimental procedure.
• Recent scientific advances suggest WET may become a clinical reality for treating vision loss.
• Ethical implications of WET are largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the ethical considerations surrounding WET as an emerging experimental treatment.
• To identify ethical issues related to WET in the context of vision restoration.

Main Methods:

• A thorough review of published literature pertaining to whole eye transplantation was performed.
• Ethical issues were identified during the literature review process.

Main Results:

• Key ethical considerations regarding WET were identified.
• The review highlighted the need for further ethical discourse on WET.

Conclusions:

• The ethical landscape of WET requires careful examination as the procedure advances.
• Addressing ethical concerns is crucial for the responsible development of WET as a therapeutic strategy.