Scientists make human eyes respond to light again after death
Researchers managed to get the retinas - the part of the eye that captures light - of pigs and humans to "talk" again and respond to light stimuli, even hours after death.
The study, published in June 2026 on the bioRxiv platform, revealed a discovery that, until now, science thought was impossible: death is not the immediate end of visual function.
To carry out the research, the ECaBox (Eye-in-Care-Box, in English) was created, which works as a portable ICU exclusively for the eye. The experiment consists of inserting a tube into the main artery of the eye and pumping in a special liquid rich in oxygen and nutrients.
In addition to feeding the eye, the box controls pressure and temperature, keeping the organ in ideal conditions, as if it were still in the body.
According to the study, in pig eyes, scientists saw that the electrical "glow" of vision returned for up to 10 to 12 hours after death. In eyes from human donors - obtained between 6 and 10 hours after death - the response to light rescued the viability of the cells, proving that the technique also works for our species.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
During the process, researchers used "smart computers" for two main things:
- Mapping the "roads" of blood: the AI created 3D maps of all the blood vessels in the eye to ensure that the liquid was reaching every corner.
- Health note: another AI system analyzed photos of the cells and gave a "grade" from 0 to 10 for the level of damage, confirming that the eyes in the box were much healthier than those left on ordinary ice
According to the study, the new discovery could be the first step towards one day being able to transplant the entire eye for those who cannot see. Furthermore, it is helping to create new medicines for blindness, which can be tested directly on "resurrected" eyes in the laboratory, without having to use live animals for initial testing.
Scientists also point out that, as the retina is part of the nervous system, learning to revive it can help doctors understand how to save the brain after cardiac arrest or stroke.
Source: CNN