VANCOUVER: In a historic medical breakthrough, three patients in Canada will undergo the country’s first-ever "tooth-in-eye" surgery this week at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Vancouver. Officially known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), this complex procedure involves using a patient’s tooth to hold an optical lens, effectively replacing a damaged cornea and restoring vision.
According to The Daily Scan, the hospital’s official news site, the OOKP surgery is intended for patients with severe corneal blindness—caused by conditions like autoimmune diseases, chemical burns, or scarring—who have not responded to traditional corneal transplants.
Meet the First Patients
The first patient, Gail Lane, 74, from Victoria, lost her sight 10 years ago due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an autoimmune disorder triggered by anti-seizure medication.
“I’ve never seen Phil. And I have friends who are more newly acquired who I’ve never seen,” Lane told The Vancouver Sun, referring to her partner of eight years.
The second patient, Brent Chapman, 33, from North Vancouver, lost his sight at age 13 due to an extreme reaction to ibuprofen. Despite undergoing 12 failed corneal transplants over 20 years—including using stem-cell tissue from his parents’ eyes—his vision was never restored.
Describing his emotions, Chapman told CTV News, “It’s absolutely mind-blowing.”
Why Use a Tooth?
The key to the OOKP procedure is the use of a tooth to house the optical lens, ensuring biocompatibility and preventing rejection.
“A tooth contains dentin, which is the ideal tissue to house a plastic lens without the body rejecting it,” Dr. Greg Moloney, the lead surgeon, told The Daily Scan.
The Surgical Team & Training for Future Cases
The groundbreaking procedure will be led by Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist and surgeon recruited from Australia in 2021, where he has successfully performed seven OOKP surgeries.
Assisting him is Dr. Shannon Webber, an oral-maxillofacial surgeon from Australia, who is training Dr. Ben Kang of Vancouver General Hospital. This effort aims to build local expertise, allowing more Canadian patients to benefit from the vision-restoring procedure.
How the Surgery Works
The OOKP surgery is a two-stage process:
First Stage:
- A tooth is extracted, shaped, and fitted with a plastic optical lens.
- The tooth-lens complex is implanted into the patient’s cheek to allow the tissue to integrate.
Second Stage:
- After several months, the tooth-lens complex is transplanted into the eye, replacing the damaged cornea.
- The optical lens allows light to pass through, restoring functional vision.
A New Hope for Corneal Blindness Patients
For patients suffering from severe corneal blindness, OOKP represents a revolutionary option—particularly for those who have exhausted conventional treatments. With this historic step in Canadian healthcare, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital is paving the way for future advancements in vision restoration.