Oldest cornea in Norway over 123 years old

by Jason Sanders | October 24, 2008 at 08:43 am

1902 views | 14 Recommendations | 40 comments

Bernt Aune's cornea saw amazing things over its 123 life, and has been confirmed to be the oldest living organ in Norway, possibly the world. The previous record holder in the living organ category was Jeanne Calment who was 122 when she died, though her cornea didn't play a relay with bodies.

"This is the oldest eye in Norway -- I don't know if it's the oldest in the world," Aune, an 80-year-old Norwegian and former ambulance driver, told Reuters by telephone on Thursday. "But my vision's not great any longer."

He had a cornea transplanted into his right eye in 1958 from the body of an elderly man who was born in June 1885. The operation was carried out at Namsos Hospital, mid-Norway.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this is the oldest living organ in the world," eye doctor Hasan Hasanain at Namsos hospital told the Norwegian daily Verdens Gang.

In the 1950s, doctors expected it to work for just five years, Hasanain said. Such cornea operations date back to the early 20th century and were among the first successful transplants.

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kutacrusader

at 09:49 on October 24th, 2008

Eye to eye with one fat cat

kutacrusader has contributed a photo to this story.

Beaulieu

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:57 on October 24th, 2008

Jason Sanders, I like this story. It's good stuff. Andy Warhol did say everyone has 15mins of fame.. but being a celebrity for having a 'famous cornea' is another thing! Soon everyone will be having the oldest toenails or whathaveyou!

Carsten (not verified)

at 11:14 on October 24th, 2008

Nice story. I didn't know that they successfully transplanted cornea that early...in the early years of the 20th century. Amazing!

Paul Iddon

at 12:08 on October 24th, 2008

As amazing as it is, I hope never to need an eye of this age!

Paul Iddon has contributed a photo to this story.

sedonajen

at 12:32 on October 24th, 2008

My daughters eye----I have green eyes, my husband has blue. Thus, one set of gorgeous eyes!!!

sedonajen has contributed a photo to this story.

sara star

at 07:18 on October 30th, 2008

The color is incredibly beautiful. Like to see a photo of you girl.

skiesforme

at 12:44 on October 24th, 2008

I took this macro shot of my friend's eye. Loved the way it turned out. It was around sunset and we were headed to Mc'Donalds ! :)
Enjoy !

skiesforme has contributed a photo to this story.

Manuel Porcari Ch

at 13:22 on October 24th, 2008

I hope you like my pictures, are my specials pics and the most beutiful I have.

MANUEL PORCARI CHUMPITAZ

Manuel Porcari Ch has contributed a photo to this story.

belinda.johansen

at 14:04 on October 24th, 2008

This is a picture of my son James. He has the most beautiful eyes I think I have ever seen. They are the deepest blue. Eyes are truly magical things. Not only the function they provide our bodies with......... but when you look into someones eyes......I think you see into the soul of that person.

belinda.johansen has contributed a photo to this story.

David Hepworth

at 14:15 on October 24th, 2008

David Hepworth has contributed a photo to this story.

R0B

at 14:24 on October 24th, 2008

R0B has contributed a photo to this story.

geyergus

at 14:41 on October 24th, 2008

This is my cornea. It's only 33 years old. Still works though.

geyergus has contributed a photo to this story.

Thom Bouman

at 14:41 on October 24th, 2008

Thom Bouman has contributed a photo to this story.

Nitrxgen

at 15:11 on October 24th, 2008

Very nice, hope it lives on to see more great things.
Thank you Jason, for your interest in my photo.

Nitrxgen has contributed a photo to this story.

4EverPhotography

at 14:56 on October 24th, 2008

Wow! Amazing story!

Thank you for your interest in my photo. Visit my website http://www.4EverPhotography.com to see more of my work.

fourbyfourblazer

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:32 on October 24th, 2008

Our eyes are the windows to our souls.

Better on Reflection

at 16:45 on October 24th, 2008

Better on Reflection has contributed a photo to this story.

Daniel.23

at 17:31 on October 24th, 2008

Daniel.23 has contributed a photo to this story.

circus.monkey

at 18:41 on October 24th, 2008

the blue looks really different on closer inspection.. its not just lots of lines like how people draw it

circus.monkey has contributed a photo to this story.

gloobag

at 23:43 on October 24th, 2008

This is a macro shot of my own eye. The reflection in the eye is my camera with flash on a tripod.

gloobag has contributed a photo to this story.

thefineartoffishing

at 01:17 on October 25th, 2008

This photo of a fish eye was taken in Southern Ireland by Robert Olsen. The fish is a roach. Estimated weight was about one and a half pounds. The fish was returned to the water safely alive.

thefineartoffishing has contributed a photo to this story.