In a groundbreaking medical procedure, Canadian doctors successfully restored the vision of a blind man by implanting a tooth in his eye. Brent Chapman, a 33-year-old massage therapist, underwent osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis (OOKP), commonly known as “tooth-in-eye” surgery, at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver.
The Science Behind the Surgery
The unique procedure, which has been performed for decades in 10 countries including the UK and Australia, involves extracting a patient’s tooth—typically a canine—and embedding a plastic optical lens inside it. The modified tooth is then implanted in the patient’s cheek for three months, allowing it to develop a blood supply. After this period, doctors extract the tooth and implant it into the front of the eye, enabling the patient to see.
Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist and surgeon at the hospital, explained that teeth are ideal for the procedure because dentine, the hardest substance the body produces, forms a natural casing to hold the optical lens. “There is no risk of rejection, because we’re using part of the patient’s own body,” he told CBC.
Chapman’s Journey to Sight
Chapman had been blind in both eyes for years due to a rare autoimmune disorder called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. His vision was normal until he turned 13, when a reaction triggered by medication led to severe burns all over his body, including his eyes. He spent 27 days in a coma and, upon recovery, had lost his sight.
Over the next two decades, Chapman underwent more than 50 surgeries, including 10 corneal implants, but none provided a permanent solution. “Some of them worked, but only for a few years or months before my sight was lost again,” he told CBC.
After undergoing the tooth-in-eye surgery, Chapman can now see again, marking a medical triumph in restoring sight through innovative surgical techniques.
A Rare but Effective Procedure
While OOKP remains a highly specialized surgery, a 2022 study in Italy found that 94% of patients who underwent the procedure still had functional vision after 27 years. Due to the complexity and risks involved, the surgery is only performed on one eye.
Sources By Agencies
