Doctors restored a man’s sight by placing his tooth in his eye; this is how they did it

What if we told you the answer to blindness might lie in your own tooth? It might sound like something straight out of a science fiction plot, but this incredible surgery is changing lives– and it’s happening right now. For Brent Chapman, a Canadian man who had been blind for years, doctors presented a solution that seemed too wild to believe: using his own tooth to restore his vision.
It’s not a futuristic fantasy, though. This groundbreaking procedure, called osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis (OOKP), is already a reality for those who thought they’d never see again. Here’s how this surgery is bringing back sight to those who had given up hope.
The tooth-in-eye surgery: A game-changer in vision restoration
Brent's doctors suggested an option that was truly out of the ordinary: take one of his teeth, insert a lens inside it, and place it in his eye. Initially, Brent was skeptical. “It sounded kind of science fiction-y,” he said. But after learning that this surgery has been performed with success in countries like the UK, Australia, and Italy for decades, he decided to give it a shot.
The tooth-in-eye procedure involves extracting one of the patient’s teeth– typically a canine– and placing a small optical lens inside. This modified tooth is then implanted in the patient’s cheek for around three months, allowing it to integrate with the body.

Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist involved in the procedure, explains the reasoning behind using a tooth: Teeth are made of dentine, which is the hardest substance the body produces. This makes it the ideal casing for the plastic lens that will connect to the eye, as mentioned by CBC. The unique combination of the body’s own material and advanced technology means there is no risk of the body rejecting the tooth. “There is no risk of rejection because we’re using part of the patient’s own body,” Dr. Moloney says.
Once the tooth has integrated, it’s moved into place beneath the cheek tissue, directly in front of the eye. The result is a functioning optical lens, allowing the patient to see once more.
The risks and rewards of restoring vision with a tooth
While the tooth-in-eye surgery offers incredible hope for people who have been blind for years, it doesn’t come without risks. As Dr. Moloney points out, “With any ocular surgery, there’s a chance that we could introduce infection and lose all our vision.” However, despite these potential dangers, the success rate of the surgery is encouraging, with many patients reporting restored sight after undergoing the procedure.
It’s a complex surgery, which is why it's only done on one eye. But for those who qualify, it offers a chance at regaining sight after years of blindness. For someone like Brent, who had spent decades in darkness, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
Brent Chapman’s fresh start

According to a CBC report, Brent’s story is nothing short of remarkable. He mentions that he was only 13 years old when he lost his vision after a rare autoimmune disorder called Stevens-Johnson syndrome caused him to go blind. After spending 27 days in a coma, Brent woke up to find that he would never see again.
In the following years, he underwent over 50 surgeries, including 10 corneal implants, but none provided lasting results. His sight would improve temporarily, only to deteriorate again. By the time his doctors recommended the tooth-in-eye procedure, Brent had nearly given up hope. But, after hearing about its success in other patients, he made the decision to try it. And it worked!
The results were life-changing. “It’s like getting my life back,” Brent said. For the first time in years, he could see again. It was a moment of pure joy for him, after decades of darkness.
Restoring sight, one tooth at a time
Brent’s case is part of a larger trend of patients whose lives have been transformed by the tooth-in-eye surgery. This procedure offers a glimmer of hope for those who have been blind for years due to accidents or medical conditions. According to the CBC report, a recent study found that with an impressive success rate, 94% of patients who had the surgery in Italy were still able to see more than two decades later– this groundbreaking treatment is proving to be a viable and effective solution.
Dr. Moloney points out that the reason the procedure works so well is that it uses the body’s own materials to create a stable foundation for the optical lens. This reduces the risk of complications and rejection, which is often a concern with other types of transplants.
A future full of possibilities
Brent’s story shows that even the most unusual solutions can lead to life-changing results. Tooth-in-eye surgery isn’t just an idea– it’s a real treatment giving hope to those who thought they’d never see again. As more people benefit from this procedure, the future of vision restoration looks even brighter.