Doctor performs bizzare surgery on blind woman, implants her tooth in the eye, ET HealthWorld


New Delhi: In a groundbreaking and slightly bizzare medical first for Canada, a blind woman has undergone an innovative procedure that used her own tooth to help restore her sight. Gail Lane, who lost her vision ten years ago, recently underwent the initial phase of this rare surgery at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, as per the hospital’s Facebook handle.

How the Tooth-in-Eye Surgery Works

The experimental procedure, known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, is typically used for patients suffering from severe corneal blindness. It involves removing one of the patient’s teeth, shaping it into a support structure, and embedding a plastic optical lens inside. The modified tooth is then implanted into the patient’s cheek for three months to allow tissue to develop before it is transferred to the eye.

The Two-Stage Surgical Process

Dr. Greg Moloney, the ophthalmologist leading the surgery, explained the intricate process to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). “It is a rare operation that most people have not heard of, even if you are an eye surgeon,” he told CBC. During the first phase, Lane’s tooth was extracted, shaped into a rectangle, and drilled to hold a plastic lens. The modified tooth was then placed in her cheek, where it will develop connective tissue before being implanted in the eye.

“The tooth doesn’t have any connective tissue that I can actually pass a suture through to connect it to the eyeball. So the point of implanting it for three months is for it to gain the layer of supporting tissue,” Dr. Moloney told CTV News.

A Hopeful Outcome

The final phase of the surgery will take place in a few months, when the tooth-lens structure will be implanted into the front of Lane’s eye, giving her a small circular window for vision. Due to the complexity of the procedure, it is performed on only one eye.

Expressing her anticipation, Lane said, “I haven’t seen myself for 10 years. If I’m fortunate enough to get some sight back, there will be wonderful things to see.”

This groundbreaking procedure, funded in part by St. Paul’s Foundation, could provide hope for individuals suffering from corneal blindness worldwide.

  • Published On Mar 5, 2025 at 03:55 PM IST

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