Three patients are set to undergo Canada’s first “tooth-in-eye” surgeries at Vancouver’s Mount Saint Joseph Hospital this week, aiming to restore their vision. This rare procedure, medically known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), involves implanting a tooth with an optical lens into the eye to replace damaged corneal tissue.
The hospital stated Monday on its official news site, The Daily Scan, that the procedure is suitable for certain patients with severe corneal blindness caused by scarring, autoimmune diseases, chemical burns, or other trauma—cases where traditional corneal transplants have failed.
The first patient, Gail Lane, 74, from Victoria, lost her sight a decade ago due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an autoimmune disorder triggered by anti-seizure medication. Her surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Gail told the Vancouver Sun she has no idea how her partner of eight years looks like.
“I’ve never seen Phil. And I have friends who are more newly acquired who I’ve never seen,” said Lane.
The second patient, Brent Chapman, 33, from North Vancouver, lost his sight at 13 after a severe reaction to ibuprofen. Despite undergoing 12 corneal transplants over 20 years—including procedures using stem-cell tissue from his parents’ eyes—his vision has not been restored. Chapman’s procedure is scheduled for Thursday.
He described the upcoming surgery to CTV News as “absolutely mind-blowing.”
A tooth contains dentin, which is the ideal tissue to house a plastic lens without the body rejecting it
Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist and surgeon
Meet the doctors behind the procedures
Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist and surgeon recruited from Australia in 2021, will lead the surgical team. He has previously performed about seven OOKP surgeries in Australia.
But why teeth?
“A tooth contains dentin, which is the ideal tissue to house a plastic lens without the body rejecting it, “Dr. Moloney explained to The Daily Scan.
Assisting in the surgeries is Dr. Shannon Webber, an oral-maxillofacial surgeon who traveled from Australia to train local surgeon Dr. Ben Kang of Vancouver General Hospital. This collaboration aims to establish the expertise locally, enabling more Canadian patients to benefit from the procedure.
The OOKP surgery is performed in two stages. First, a tooth is extracted, fitted with a plastic lens, and implanted into the patient’s cheek to allow tissue integration. After several months, the tooth-lens complex is transplanted into the eye, replacing the damaged cornea and restoring vision.
This groundbreaking procedure offers hope to patients with severe corneal blindness unresponsive to traditional treatments.
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