Canadian surgeons have performed a groundbreaking procedure to restore vision by implanting a tooth into a patient’s eye for the first time.
A 74-year-old patient underwent a procedure in which one of her teeth was extracted, modified by drilling a hole to accommodate a plastic lens, and temporarily implanted inside her cheek for three months to allow the growth of supportive tissue. The tooth was then transplanted onto the front of her eyeball.
According to ophthalmologist Greg Moloney, this technique helps restore corneal transparency. Natural teeth are used due to their high biocompatibility, unlike synthetic materials, which are often rejected by the immune system.
The surgery was successful, and the patient is now recovering well.