Canadian Woman To Undergo Rare 'Tooth-In-Eye' Surgery To Regain Vision

For the first time in the history of medicine, Canadian doctors have successfully performed the first stage of a rare surgery on a blind woman, which involves implanting a tooth into her eye to help restore vision. 

Gail Lane, a Canadian woman, who lost her sight a decade ago due to complications from an autoimmune disease, underwent the initial phase of the surgery at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver in February end. This marks the first time this kind of procedure has been carried out in Canada, as reported by the hospital on Facebook.

How Does This Surgery Work?

As reported by the CBC, this complex operation, known as Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), involves removing one of the patient's teeth—typically the canine—shaping it into a rectangular block, and drilling a hole into it. A plastic optical lens is then placed inside the tooth, which acts as a support structure for the lens. The modified tooth is temporarily implanted into the patient’s cheek to allow blood vessels and tissue to grow around it. 

After about three months, the tooth will be extracted from the cheek and implanted into the front of the eye, through which the patient can see. 

The surgery is usually performed on only one eye due to its highly intricate nature.

“It is a rare operation that most people have not heard of, even if you are an eye surgeon,” Dr Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist and surgeon at the hospital, told the CBC.

Hope For A Brighter Future

Speaking to CTV News, Lane shared her excitement about the possibility of getting her sight back, expressing how difficult it has been for her to not be able to see herself for the past 10 years.

“If I’m fortunate enough to get some sight back, there will be wonderful things to see,” she said.

Apart from Gail Lane, two other patients are also set to undergo this revolutionary procedure, offering hope to those suffering from vision loss due to corneal damage.