After more than two decades without vision, a 34-year-old Canadian man, Brent Chapman, can see again — thanks to a rare operation that uses a patient’s own tooth to anchor an artificial cornea. The procedure, formally called osteoodontokeratoprosthesis (OOKP) or modified OOKP (MOOKP), was performed for the first time in Canada this year by ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Greg Moloney at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver. Chapman, blinded at 13 by Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a severe immune reaction), achieved around 20/30 vision with glasses shortly after surgery, according to reports from People and LiveScience and an update from the University of British Columbia.
Quick Take
- What happened? Surgeons implanted a plastic optical cylinder inside one of the patient’s own teeth, then transplanted the tooth-and-lens “plug” into his eye to act as a new window for light.
- Why a tooth? Using the patient’s own living tissue (tooth + bone) reduces the risk of rejection and creates a sturdy “biologic haptic” to hold the lens.
- How rare is this? Only a few hundred such surgeries have been performed worldwide; Canada’s program launched in 2025 and treated its first patients this year.
What Is “Tooth-in-Eye” Surgery?
OOKP/MOOKP is a two-stage corneal-replacement strategy designed for people with end-stage ocular surface disease who cannot benefit from standard corneal transplants (for example, due to scarring from chemical burns, autoimmune disease, or Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
- Build the implant. A canine tooth (usually) with a small block of surrounding jawbone is removed. Surgeons drill a hole through the tooth and insert a PMMA optical cylinder (tiny lens). The assembly is then implanted under the skin (often in the cheek) for a few months so the body can vascularize it.
- Prepare the eye & transplant. Scarred tissue on the eye is cleared; the eye is covered with a buccal mucosal graft (lining from inside the cheek). In the second stage, the tooth-lens is brought from the cheek and sewn onto the eye, creating a clear, stable optical pathway to the retina.
Famous early North American success stories include Sharron “Kay” Thornton (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, 2009).
How Well Does It Work?
Long-term evidence is unusually strong for such a rare procedure:
- A 2022 Italian series (82 eyes, mean 27 years of follow-up) found the implant’s anatomical integrity was maintained in 94% of eyes at last review.
- The landmark Falcinelli 2005 study (181 cases) estimated ~85% probability of keeping an intact OOKP at 18 years and documented durable visual gains in many patients.
- Recent reviews continue to report excellent long-term survival when performed in the right candidates and with buccal mucosa coverage.
Chapman’s case tracks with that literature: after stage-two surgery he quickly detected movement and then read the eye chart with corrective lenses; minor alignment tweaks are sometimes needed during healing.
Who Qualifies — and Who Doesn’t?
Best candidates are people with bilateral corneal blindness (both eyes) where the eye’s internal wiring (retina/optic nerve) still functions, but the front of the eye is irreparably scarred. Common causes include autoimmune conditions (e.g., mucous membrane pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) and chemical injuries. Patients must be able to tolerate multiple surgeries and lifelong follow-up.
Not candidates: individuals whose blindness stems from optic-nerve or retinal failure (where letting in light won’t help), or those with uncontrolled infection or severe systemic issues that would make surgery unsafe. (This assessment is individualized by the surgical team.)
Risks, Complications, and Aftercare
While outcomes can be life-changing, OOKP is not a “set-and-forget” implant. Reported issues include:
- Glaucoma (pressure-related optic-nerve damage) — prevalent long-term and requires vigilant monitoring/medication.
- Infection, mucosal graft problems, and, rarely, laminar resorption of the tooth-bone complex.
- Retina-related complications that may need vitreo-retinal intervention.
Success hinges on experienced centers, meticulous technique, and lifelong follow-up to maintain the mucosal surface, control eye pressure, and adjust optical alignment if needed.
Why You’re Hearing About It Now
Although pioneered decades ago in Europe, OOKP access has been limited to a handful of high-skill centers worldwide. In 2025, Canada launched its first program; media coverage spiked as the first three Canadian patients regained meaningful sight, including Chapman (34) and a 75-year-old woman, Gail Lane.
A Holistic Health Perspective
While OOKP is a high-tech, last-resort operation, the broader story carries whole-person lessons:
- Medication safety & allergies: Chapman’s original injury followed a severe reaction to ibuprofen. Always discuss new meds with your clinician if you have a history of drug reactions; seek urgent care for rashes or mouth/eye symptoms suggestive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
- Protect your eyes: Chemical safety (eye protection at work/home), UV protection, and prompt treatment of ocular surface disease can help prevent scarring that leads to end-stage blindness. (General prevention guidance; not a substitute for care.)
- Inflammation & autoimmunity: For autoimmune causes of corneal damage, a comprehensive plan may include prescribed immunomodulating therapy, anti-inflammatory nutrition patterns, and dryness-management strategies — always coordinated with ophthalmology and rheumatology. (Evidence for diet is supportive but adjunctive; it cannot reverse established scarring.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tooth visible after surgery?
The implanted tooth-bone “lamina” sits behind the cheek-mucosa covering. What you see externally is a small clear optical cylinder in the center of an otherwise pink, graft-covered surface.
Why not just transplant a donor cornea?
In severe ocular-surface disease, the eye can’t maintain a clear donor graft; scarring and dryness make standard transplants fail. OOKP bypasses the damaged surface with a rigid, self-tissue-anchored lens.
How long do results last?
Published data show decades-long retention for many patients (e.g., 85% intact at 18 years; 94% integrity across an average 27-year follow-up), though visual acuity can fluctuate and complications must be managed.
Where can someone inquire?
Look for tertiary cornea services with OOKP expertise. Recent Canadian updates point to Vancouver’s Mount Saint Joseph Hospital under Dr. Moloney; globally, centers with MOOKP experience are limited.
The Bottom Line
For a tiny subset of people with otherwise irreversible corneal blindness, tooth-in-eye surgery can transform life — letting light, faces, and color back in when all other options failed. Chapman’s story is dramatic and real, but it rests on decades of quiet surgical refinement and long-term follow-up proving that a living tooth-and-bone scaffold can safely hold a clear window to the world.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have eye symptoms or vision loss, seek care from a qualified eye specialist promptly.
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