Tooth-in-eye surgery offers hope for restored vision

Editor's Note

For the first time in Canada, surgeons aim to restore a patient’s sight by gluing a lens into a removed tooth, temporarily implanting the structure into the cheek to develop a tissue lining, then sewing it onto the front of eye three months later. CTV News reported on the two-part procedure February 24.

Corneal surgeon Dr. Greg Moloney perfected the two-part surgery in Australia before bringing it to Canada, the outlet reports. The patient,, Brent Chapman, lost his vision due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome after taking ibuprofen at age 13. Having undergone 10 corneal transplants, Chapman hopes the procedure will end his cycle of surgeries and restore his sight.

Quoting Dr Moloney, the outlet reports that close-to-normal vision could be restored if the patient’s retina and optic nerve are healthy. The procedure also will alter the eye’s appearance.