Canadian Surgeons Use Tooth Implant to Restore Blind Woman's Vision

After spending a decade without sight, Canadian woman Gail Lane is hopeful that a rare and innovative procedure known as "tooth-in-eye" surgery will restore her vision. This groundbreaking operation, performed at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, marks the first time it has been successfully conducted in Canada.

Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist involved in the procedure, explained that even among eye specialists, this technique is not widely known. The surgery involves implanting a specially modified tooth into the eye to serve as a foundation for a new cornea, according to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

This complex medical intervention takes place in two phases. The initial phase of the procedure involved shaping one of Lane’s teeth into a rectangular piece, drilling a hole, and inserting a plastic lens inside. This prepared tooth was then placed inside Lane’s cheek for several months to allow it to develop the necessary connective tissue. Dr. Moloney emphasized that this step is essential because a natural tooth lacks the appropriate tissue to be directly implanted into the eye. Simultaneously, the surface layer of Lane's eye was removed and replaced with a graft taken from her cheek to prepare the eye for the upcoming implantation. After this period, the tooth will be removed and positioned within the eye, beneath the cheek tissue. The final result is expected to be a pink-tinted eye with a small black circle in the center through which Lane will be able to see. Due to the complexity of the surgery, it is performed only on one eye.

Dr. Moloney noted that this surgery is not a universal solution for blindness. It is specifically designed for patients who suffer from severe corneal blindness due to conjunctival scarring caused by autoimmune diseases, chemical burns, or physical trauma. However, for the surgery to be effective, candidates must have a healthy retina and intact optic nerves.

Mount Saint Joseph Hospital shared details about the procedure on Facebook, underscoring its significance. Speaking about her experience, Lane encapsulated the hope surrounding the surgery with her heartfelt words: "I haven't seen myself for ten years. If I can regain even some sight, it will be a beautiful gift."

In a Canadian medical first, doctors successfully carried out the initial phase of this rare vision-restoring procedure, which involves implanting a tooth into a blind patient’s eye. Gail Lane, who lost her sight a decade ago, underwent the first stage of the operation in late February at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, as confirmed by a hospital Facebook post. The surgery entails removing a patient’s tooth—usually a canine—embedding a plastic lens within it, and later implanting the structure into the eye, CBC reported.

"It's a rare procedure that most people have never heard of, even among ophthalmologists," Dr. Moloney explained to CBC.

Two other patients are also scheduled to have this extremely rare "tooth-in-eye" operation in the near future.

This revolutionary project was possible due to generous donations from St. Paul's Foundation, which raised a staggering $430,000 for the project.

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)